PARIS — Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced his fourth run for French president on Sunday, becoming one of the highest-profile candidates to formally join the race to replace term-limited Emmanuel Macron next year.
“Yes, I am a candidate,” the 74-year-old leftist said in an interview with French broadcaster TF1, describing himself as best suited to face “an agitated season in global history” — pointing to geopolitical, economic and environmental risks.
Mélenchon, who quit the center-left Socialist Party nearly two decades ago to push for a more radical brand of politics, was the best-placed left-wing candidate in the last two presidential elections, finishing a close third behind his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in 2022.
The most recent polling showed Mélenchon scoring between 10.5 percent and 13 percent of the vote and possibly facing off with the far right in the second round, depending on which other candidates run. For now he is regarded as the weakest option to stave off the far right due to his low approval rating.
Mélenchon has become one of the most polarizing figures in French politics, enjoying the support of a solid base of loyal followers while his opponents depict him as an extremist.
Some of his key policy proposals include capping inheritances, pulling France out of NATO, and bringing the minimum retirement age back down to 60.
