Jean-Luc Mélenchon blames capitalism for France's summer wildfires

At a rally in Paimpont, Brittany, left‑wing politician Jean‑Luc Mélenchon said the forest fires raging across France are a political consequence of “the stupidity of capitalism,” not a natural accident. He argued that the system’s focus on accumulation and its refusal to organise environmental protection have created the conditions for the severe wildfires.

Mélenchon criticised France for lacking domestically produced water‑bombing aircraft, noting the country operates twelve Canadian‑made Canadair CL‑415 planes while three French firms are developing alternatives. He accused rival Gabriel Attal of cancelling an order for two additional Canadair aircraft through budget cuts when Attal was prime minister. The candidate called for “ecological planning” and pledged to address the issue should he be elected.