‘Radical’ or ‘hero’?: France debates leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon

Hard-left French leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has been described as a “radical” by right-wing opponents, a “despot” by former allies and a “hero” by some of the students who have taken to the streets in nationwide protests . The leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party has emerged as the strongest contender on the left and potential challenger to far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen in next year’s presidential election.

On Saturday, Melenchon is presenting his programme at a rally in Le Bourget, north of Paris, a day after it was published online. Among his proposals, he wants to lower the retirement age to 60 and raise the minimum wage to 1,700 euro ($1,900) a month; pull France out of NATO and renationalise parts of the economy.

He wants the European Central Bank to stop France repaying the debt it holds, effectively transforming the debt instead to a permanent interest-free loan – a move he hopes would give the government more room to spend.