Jean-Luc Mélenchon confirms the obvious: he will be a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election

As widely anticipated, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the prominent figurehead of La France insoumise, has officially declared his intention to run for the French presidency in 2027. This announcement, made on TF1, comes as no surprise to followers of French politics, having been formally approved by LFI elected officials earlier in the day. Mélenchon framed his decision as a matter of necessity, stating, "We are a team with a program and a single candidate." He asserts that he is "the best prepared" within his party and justified the early declaration, a year before the election, by the "urgency" of the current global situation.

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We are a team with a program and a single candidate.

Mélenchon painted a stark picture of the world, warning of "generalized war," "spectacular climate change," and an impending "economic and social crisis." He lamented the "internal divisions within parties" that lead to a "multitude of candidacies and confusion," deeming such disarray "irresponsible." His campaign, he declared, is not just about his own ambition but about presenting a united front against what he perceives as existential threats. He is calling for popular support and seeking the "sponsorship of the people."

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Without wanting to alarm, but to be lucid, we are entering a very agitated season of world history. We are threatened by generalized war, we are threatened by spectacular climate change. And then we have an economic and social crisis advancing towards us.

Looking ahead to the electoral landscape, Mélenchon squarely identified the Rassemblement national (RN) as his principal adversary. Despite the RN's current standing as the apparent frontrunner, potentially led by Jordan Bardella or Marine Le Pen, the 74-year-old firebrand expressed strong optimism about his chances. "Honestly, I don't believe it. I don't even know if they will be in the second round... I think we will beat them soundly," he stated, projecting a confidence that belies the current polling data. His focus remains on challenging the RN, a stark contrast to the more fragmented political field that often characterizes French presidential races.

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I am a candidate for the presidential election. The context and the urgency have fixed the decision of La France insoumise to designate me.