Mélenchon launched his presidential program / “We have no business being in NATO, nor in American wars” / “Savings must be directed toward the ecological and social needs of our country”

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, presented his program on Saturday for France’s presidential elections, scheduled for next spring, at a rally held in Le Bourget, north of Paris. More than 20,000 supporters attended the event, according to his campaign director.

The radical-left candidate announced an economic policy opposed to that promoted by President Emmanuel Macron, based on stimulating consumption and directing savings toward social and environmental objectives. The LFI program calls for price freezes, raising the net minimum wage to 1,700 euros, indexing wages to inflation and capping prices for basic foodstuffs.

Mélenchon also promises to repeal the pension reform and restore retirement at age 60 for people with 40 years of contributions. The party proposes higher taxes on wealthy households and eliminating the flat tax on capital income.

In foreign policy, the LFI leader criticized NATO and “American wars,” advocating France’s gradual withdrawal from the alliance and the creation of a global front of non-aligned countries. He supported assistance for Palestinians and said that resolving the war in Ukraine cannot involve territorial concessions without consulting the affected populations. Recent polls identify him as the strongest left-wing candidate, with a chance of reaching the second round, where he would nevertheless lose to Marine Le Pen.