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![Portrait of Jean-Luc Mélenchon]()
France Unbowed (LFI)
Radical left
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Founder of France Unbowed, aged 75
Declared candidate on 3 May 2026
7.3/10
Overall score
2nd out of 16
+Strengths
- Second in most polls: 16 to 19%
- Formidable orator; 22% in 2022, 1.2 points short of the run-off
- Highly mobilised movement, strong among young people and in working-class areas
−Weaknesses
- Heavy run-off defeat against Le Pen in the polls (31 to 36%)
- Among the most rejected figures in public opinion
- Fourth candidacy, at 75
In the polls
16.9% on average over the last 30 days, +1.2 pt in three months.
60 polls since 26 March 2025. All polls
Proposals
- Pensions
- Repeal the 2023 reform and restore retirement at 60 after 40 years of contributions.
- Work and purchasing power
- A minimum wage of €1,600 net, wages indexed to inflation, a price freeze on basic necessities.
- Taxes and spending
- Restore a strengthened wealth tax, move to 14 income-tax brackets and cap inheritances.
- Immigration
- Regularise undocumented workers and repeal the 2024 immigration law.
- Europe and defence
- Non-alignment and leaving NATO's integrated command; disobey European treaties that would block the programme.
- Energy and climate
- Gradual exit from nuclear power and 100% renewable energy, through ecological planning.
- Institutions and security
- A Sixth Republic drafted by a constituent assembly and put to a referendum; a citizens' initiative referendum.
Sources: The “L'Avenir en commun” programme (January 2025 edition), summarised by France-Vote.
Chances in our scenarios
| Scenario | Reaches the run-off | Wins the election |
|---|---|---|
| The current landscape | 66% | less than 1% |
| The centrist bloc behind Philippe | 48% | less than 1% |
| Right and centre united | 13% | less than 1% |
| The left united behind Glucksmann | 61% | less than 1% |
| Jordan Bardella instead of Marine Le Pen | 66% | less than 1% |
Profile
What the scores measure
- Experience
- Offices held, government roles, knowledge of the State
- Name recognition
- How well known they are to the public
- Communication
- Media skills, debating, social media presence
- Polls
- First-round voting intentions in October 2026, and their trend
- Reach
- Ability to win votes beyond their own camp in the run-off
- Party machine
- Party strength: activists, elected officials, funding