Mélenchon vows retirement at 60 as he launches 2027 campaign

Jean-Luc Mélenchon fires up his 2027 presidential run on Saturday, unveiling a manifesto that promises to scrap Emmanuel Macron's pension overhaul and hand French workers retirement at 60 again. The 75-year-old's platform, titled 'L'Avenir en commun' ('A Shared Future'), is the fifth edition from his party France Unbowed and leans hard on the policies that powered his past campaigns.

Under LFI's plan, anyone with 40 years of contributions could clock out at 60 — undoing Macron's reform that pushed the minimum retirement age up to 64, from 62. The programme also pledges to lift the net monthly minimum wage to €1,700, up from around €1,480, abolish the flat tax on capital income, hike taxes on the wealthiest households and cap prices on essential foods.

Energy gets the same treatment. LFI repeats its call for a gradual nuclear phase-out in favour of an all-renewable electricity system, scrapping the planned EPR2 reactor programme and refusing to let existing plants run past 60 years.

On the world stage, Mélenchon keeps swinging at NATO, calling for France to pull out gradually, starting with a departure from the alliance's integrated military command. France did exactly that in 1966 under Charles de Gaulle before Nicolas Sarkozy reversed it in 2009. The manifesto also knocks German sway over EU economic policy, labelling Berlin the chief defender of 'ordoliberalism' — the strict budget rules, price stability and independent monetary policy school of thought.

Closer to home, the platform pushes for shielding domestic industry, wooing production back to France and giving the state a far more interventionist role in the economy.

The politics are just as charged. Recent opinion polls show Mélenchon, seen as the left's strongest contender, reaching next April's presidential runoff against far-right leader Marine Le Pen — while also suggesting he would lose in the second round.