PARIS – Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced his fourth bid for the French presidency on Sunday, becoming one of the most prominent candidates to officially join the race to replace Emmanuel Macron, who is out of office next year.
“Yes, I am a candidate,” the 74-year-old leftist said in an interview with French broadcaster TF1, describing himself as best suited to deal with “the most turbulent season in global history” – pointing to geopolitical, economic and environmental risks.
Mélenchon, who left the center-right Socialist Party nearly two decades ago to push for a more radical brand of politics, was the left’s best-placed candidate in the last two presidential elections, finishing third behind right-wing rival Marine Le Pen in 2022.
