French presidential candidate Mélenchon calls for NATO withdrawal

Presidential candidate in France Mélenchon calls for NATO withdrawal and criticizes Germany As of: November 8th, 2026 • 1:14 a.m

He could do well in the French presidential election next April: the left-wing candidate Mélenchon. Now he has presented his program - and not only positioned himself against NATO.

When presenting his program for next year's presidential election, French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for his country to leave NATO. "We have no place in NATO or in American wars," said the 75-year-old at a rally for his anti-capitalist party La France Insoumise (LFI) in the Paris suburb of Le Bourget. Instead, France must build a “global front of non-aligned states”.

The program also criticizes German influence on EU economic policy. Berlin is Europe's most important defender of "ordoliberalism" - an economic philosophy based on strict budget rules, price stability and an independent monetary policy.

Mélenchon is considered the strongest candidate from the left camp. According to the latest polls, he is likely to reach the runoff against the far-right politician Marine Le Pen in next April's election, but lose to her in the second round. President Emmanuel Macron is not allowed to run again. Surveys also show that many citizens are dissatisfied with his policies.

French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon presents election program Sabine Bohland, ARD Paris, tagesthemen, Das Erste, November 7th, 2026 • 11:30 p.m. Withdrawal from NATO should take place gradually. Mélenchon's election program reiterates his long-standing criticism of NATO. France's requested withdrawal should therefore come gradually and begin with the withdrawal from the integrated military command.

In economic policy, Mélenchon held out the prospect of an economic stimulus program and a departure from Macron's policies. "We will do exactly the opposite - that is, a policy of economic recovery," said Mélenchon. "Firstly, through consumer spending, because this accounts for more than half of our country's economic output. And secondly, through billions that already exist. These are savings that must be directed towards the ecological and social needs of our country."

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As an immediate response to the high cost of living, Mélenchon called for measures to "freeze prices, raise the minimum wage and link wages to inflation."

The monthly net minimum wage should increase by around 15 percent from 1,480 to 1,700 euros. In addition, taxes for the wealthiest households are to be increased and prices for basic foods are to be capped.

The core promises also include the reversal of Macron's pension reform. The minimum retirement age was gradually raised from 62 to 64, which was also intended to stabilize the state's finances, which had gotten out of hand. Mélenchon's party, the LFI, said it wanted to restore pensions at 60 for people who have paid into the system for 40 years.

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Mélenchon's election manifesto also reiterates his support for a gradual phase-out of nuclear power in favor of an electricity system based entirely on renewable energy. To this end, the EPR2 program for a new generation of state-funded nuclear reactors should be canceled and the life of nuclear power plants should not be extended beyond 60 years.

The manifesto, entitled "L'Avenir en commun" ("A common future"), is the fifth edition of the LFI program and largely reiterates the positions of Mélenchon's previous presidential campaigns.

This topic in the program: The First | daily topics | Nov 7, 2026 | 11:30 p.m