the non-Melenchonist left seeks an alternative candidacy to Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Environmentalists, socialists, communists and rebels at odds with Jean-Luc Mélenchon want a joint candidacy for the next presidential election, but are trying to circumvent the leader of rebellious France.

Since Jean-Luc Mélenchon made the European elections of June 9 the first round of the 2027 presidential election, many on the left are sure: he will do everything to be a candidate for the Élysée for a fourth time. Outside of LFI, the hypothesis does not delight many people. “Even civil society actors who voted for Mélenchon in 2022 are asking us if there is a plan to do without him in 2027,” confides an environmentalist executive, who dreams of a single candidate on the left, provided his name is not Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Environmentalists, socialists, communists and rebels at odds with their leader are therefore phosphorescent behind the scenes to find the path to another common candidacy. “It’s a discussion”certifies a PS leader, who promises progress “at the start of the school year or next fall”.

In the meantime, some of the rebels are preparing an application. This is the case of Clémentine Autain, who began preparatory meetings at the end of February, as revealed by Politico. The member for Seine-Saint-Denis is favored by Christiane Taubira, who failed in her attempt at union in 2022. There is also the other rebellious free electron François Ruffin who is plowing his furrow for 2027. “Two solid options”praises a non-Melenchonist rebel, who adds “the more solid options the better.”

The primary hypothesis

However, a possible common candidate would not necessarily come from the ranks of LFI. “Part of the left is neither for Autain nor for Ruffin”explains a convinced PS deputy “that we will also have to speak to left-wing Macronist voters in 2027”. The socialists are also counting on the Europeans to change the balance of power. If Raphaël Glucksmann’s list comes to the top of the left on June 9, the PS will also be able to claim leadership. As for environmentalists, they do not make it a prerequisite to line up behind a green candidate, but one elected official considers that in 2027 “ecology must be fight number 1”, and that an ecologist would be better able to embody it. On the left, some are therefore pushing for a primary in order to nominate a single candidate.

These attempts to do without Jean-Luc Mélenchon are observed by his friends with the calm of old troops. “Apart from Jean-Luc Mélenchon, today no one has the level for the presidential election”, scratches one of his lieutenants. And above all Jean-Luc Mélenchon has a militant force behind him. An environmentalist MP therefore doubts attempts to circumvent it: “it’s there, you have to deal with it, she says, otherwise we will end up with a left-wing candidate in addition to Mélenchon”. A risky calculation to reach the second round.