Jean‑Luc Mélenchon rallies in Saint‑Denis, declares himself sole left‑wing option for 2027 French presidential race

On Sunday 7 June, Jean‑Luc Mélenchon, the La France Insoumise (LFI) candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, addressed a crowd of about 26 000 people at his first major campaign meeting in Saint‑Denis, on the outskirts of Paris. He urged supporters to persuade three voters each to back his movement and framed the event as a "grand changement" for France.

Mélenchon presented himself as the only viable left‑wing alternative, stating that "la primaire est finie" and warning that the National Rally (RN) promotes "suprémacisme" that divides peoples by ethnicity and religion. He outlined a programme he called a "nouvelle France", including a sixth Republic, extended autonomy for Corsica, independence for New Caledonia, nationalisation of ArcelorMittal, retirement at 60, a €1 700 minimum wage, and a Europe freed from liberalism, alongside ecological restructuring of regions.

The rally featured speaker Bally Bagayoko, the newly elected mayor of Saint‑Denis, and literary figures Annie Ernaux and Eric Vuillard. Mélenchon also called for a European petition to end the trade agreement with Israel and urged recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity.