Mélenchon and Attal try to turn their rivalry into a duel to weaken Édouard Philippe

Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Gabriel Attal are heading to Lille's Braderie on the same day, but they are unlikely to meet beside one of the city's famous chip stands. Instead, their contest is unfolding at a distance.

Attal, the Renaissance candidate, is expected to walk through the event's stalls in the morning before having lunch with local elected officials. Mélenchon, a familiar presence at the festivities, is due to give a speech at around 4 p.m. in the Flemish capital.

For weeks, the two presidential candidates have been feeding an ideological confrontation that serves interests on both sides, according to Le Figaro's analysis. Their public opposition helps frame the political field as a duel, with former prime minister Édouard Philippe as the figure they are seeking to weaken.

Mélenchon has repeatedly attacked Philippe during the summer, including through numerous posts on his X account. In July, as forest fires began spreading across several regions, he accused Attal of “cancelling funding intended to buy two Canadair aircraft,” triggering a controversy.

The Lille appearances offer a visible stage for a rivalry that does not require the candidates to share the same platform. Their schedules keep them apart, while their opposing messages continue to build the political face-off described by the newspaper.

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cancelling funding intended to buy two Canadair aircraft