Mélenchon Unveils Manifesto at Le Bourget for 2027 French Presidential Race

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the French left-wing party France Unbowed, presented his manifesto, titled "A Shared Future", at Le Bourget, north of Paris, on Saturday, ahead of the 2027 French presidential election. It is his fourth bid for the presidency, and the event marks the start of his campaign.

A venue with left-wing history

Mélenchon chose a location with significance for the French left: it hosted François Hollande's well-known 2012 campaign rally. In his speech he said the country faces "a crisis of human civilisation" and added, "we are going to win."

What the manifesto promises

The programme pledges sweeping economic change. It includes higher wages, price controls and the reversal of pension reform.

Political backdrop

Mélenchon is hoping to turn public anger into electoral momentum. According to the source, social unrest in France is growing, protests over the cost of living are continuing, and the political landscape is increasingly polarised.

His combative style, however, remains divisive. Critics question whether he can broaden his appeal enough to win.

To mark the launch, France 24 presenter Gavin Lee spoke with Antoine Léaument, a France Unbowed member of the National Assembly for Essonne and a close ally of Mélenchon. The discussion considered whether this is Mélenchon's moment or his last stand.