Bardella denies antisemitic messages, files defamation suits against Mediapart
Bardella denies antisemitic messages, files lawsuits; voters remain skeptical of his denial.
Event / Politics
French Presidential Election 2027
Coverage of the 2027 French presidential election campaign, including candidate announcements, policy positions, and political developments across the political spectrum.
2 reported locations
Daily activity
55 articles0 articles
2026-08-02 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 28 Mar, 12:07 UTC
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What happened
Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced fourth presidential candidacy for 2027
Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election as the candidate of La France insoumise (LFI), a far-left political movement. The announcement was made on TF1's 20-hour news program on Sunday, May 3, 2026. His candidacy requires 150,000 citizen endorsements to be officially registered, which is considered a formality for the founder of LFI.
LFI elected members designated Mélenchon as party's 2027 presidential candidate
Elected members of La France insoumise gathered in Paris on Sunday, May 3, 2026, to formally designate Jean-Luc Mélenchon as the party's candidate for the 2027 presidential election. This internal party selection process preceded his public announcement on national television.
Mélenchon received 22 percent in 2022 presidential election, placed third
In the 2022 French presidential election, Jean-Luc Mélenchon received 22 percent of votes in the first round, finishing in third place. He fell 420,000 votes short of making it to the second round runoff. This represented an increase from his 2017 performance, when he received 19.58 percent of votes.
Left-wing political figures show stable approval ratings ahead of 2027 election
Raphaël Glucksmann and François Hollande each maintained 22% approval ratings, while François Ruffin achieved 21% approval. These stable ratings indicate the left-wing political movement remains in search of a potential champion candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Gabriel Attal's approval rating increases following book publication
Gabriel Attal's approval rating increased by 2 percentage points to 30% following the release of his book 'En homme libre'. The book, released the previous Thursday, discusses his father's death, his homosexuality, and school harassment he experienced. His improved rating narrows the gap with rival Édouard Philippe to just 2 percentage points, reversing a negative trend observed over the previous year.
Gabriel Attal proposes bill to allow florists to work on May 1st
Gabriel Attal submitted a bill proposal to authorize work on May 1st for florists and other professions. This legislative initiative was part of his recent political activities following the release of his memoir.
Bruno Retailleau gains 3 points in approval rating after LR endorsement
Bruno Retailleau's approval rating increased by 3 percentage points to 27%. The gain followed his endorsement on April 19th by three-quarters of Les Républicains (LR) members as their candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Odoxa poll conducted among 1,005 French residents
An Odoxa survey was conducted in partnership with Mascaret for regional press and Public Sénat. The poll surveyed 1,005 French residents using quota sampling methodology on April 22-23.
Jordan Bardella's approval rating drops 3 points following relationship revelation
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN), saw his approval rating decline by 3 percentage points to 35% in an Odoxa monthly poll published on Tuesday. The decline followed media coverage in Paris Match of his relationship with Maria Carolina de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles. Despite the negative impact on his approval rating, Bardella remains the most preferred political personality in the poll, ahead of Marine Le Pen.
La France insoumise approves candidate selection process for 2027 presidential election
La France insoumise adopted a candidate selection methodology for the 2027 presidential election. The party's parliamentary intergroup (deputies, MEPs, and mayors totaling approximately 100 elected officials) will propose a candidate based on recommendations from the party's coordination. The designation process will use consensus-based decision-making rather than direct voting among elected officials. The candidate selection is scheduled to occur before summer 2025. A roadmap outlining this process was approved by 96.6% of 68,120 party members who voted.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon favored as La France insoumise's 2027 presidential candidate
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of La France insoumise, is the favored candidate for the party's 2027 presidential nomination. Party leaders including Manuel Bompard stated that Mélenchon is the best candidate for the party and the only one currently capable of advancing the left to the second round and potentially defeating the far-right. Despite previously calling to be replaced after 2022, Mélenchon appears positioned to run for a fourth presidential campaign. Any presidential candidate from the party must collect 150,000 citizen endorsements; Mélenchon obtained these in four days before the 2022 election.
Socialist Party experiences internal tensions following municipal elections
The Socialist Party is experiencing internal turmoil with several party leaders contesting Olivier Faure's leadership since the municipal elections in late March. Faure criticized the constant internal disputes, comparing the party to a permanent congress with constant conflict that exhausts and disgusts members.
Jean-Christophe Cambadélis calls for Olivier Faure to resign or convene party congress
Former Socialist Party first secretary Jean-Christophe Cambadélis stated on Radio J that Olivier Faure no longer has a majority within the PS, describing the party as experiencing its worst crisis since the 1960s. Cambadélis called on Faure to either resign or organize a party congress, arguing he cannot maintain his position through artifice.
Olivier Faure expresses interest in being unified left-wing candidate for 2027 French presidential election
Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), stated in interviews on franceinfo and France Inter that he would be pleased to serve as the common candidate of the non-Mélenchon left for the 2027 presidential election. He emphasized support for a primary process to designate this candidate but clarified he has not yet made a final decision regarding his own candidacy.
Communist Party plans congress in early July to discuss 2027 presidential candidacy
Fabien Roussel announced that the French Communist Party will hold a congress in early July 2026 to discuss whether the party will field its own candidate in the 2027 presidential election. When asked directly, Roussel responded non-committally that the party would 'see.'
Roussel proposes energy crisis focus as alternative to left-wing coalition talks
Fabien Roussel presented a counter-proposal to Manuel Bompard's coalition initiative, inviting all left-wing forces, including LFI, to work together on addressing the current energy crisis. Roussel emphasized the need for strong measures to regain control over energy policy and prevent price markups, framing this as more concrete policy work than electoral maneuvering.
Roussel cites rupture between Communist Party and LFI over 2024 legislative alliance
Fabien Roussel stated there was a breakdown in relations with La France Insoumise, citing that LFI deputies elected in 2024 under the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) legislative agreement subsequently ran against communist, socialist, and ecologist mayors in the 2025 municipal elections. Roussel described this as leaving a bitter taste and causing electoral setbacks for the left.
French Communist Party leader rejects unified left-wing candidacy for 2027 presidential election
Fabien Roussel, secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), refused on Sunday, April 5, 2026, to accept the hand extended by La France Insoumise (LFI) for a common candidacy in the 2027 presidential election. This came in response to an appeal launched by LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard on Thursday, which proposed an agreement on the program and candidacies for senatorial and legislative elections.
Roussel declares Mélenchon the worst possible runoff candidate
Fabien Roussel stated that Jean-Luc Mélenchon is certainly the worst candidate for a second-round runoff in the 2027 presidential election. Roussel noted that right-wing figures including Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen, and Bruno Retailleau view Mélenchon as their best ally in a runoff because they are confident of victory against him.
Socialist and Green leaders clash over primary viability
Socialist Party deputy group leader Boris Vallaud and Place publique deputy Raphaël Glucksmann made peremptory declarations that Marine Tondelier criticized as claiming a monopoly on values. Some Socialist figures, including former President François Hollande, opposed the primary framework proposed by the Greens and Olivier Faure.
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2 alternative perspectives
Mélenchon expands autumn campaign across strategic French cities
Mélenchon expands autumn campaign across strategic cities while strengthening rural organizing.
France targets five percent budget deficit amid campaign fiscal pressures
France targets 5% deficit in 2027 budget facing National Rally opposition and rising debt pressures.
Mélenchon threatens prosecution as central banker defends monetary independence
Mélenchon threatens treason prosecution; Moulin defends central bank independence from political interference.
Le Pen defends Bardella amid antisemitic writings controversy
Le Pen publicly defends Bardella against antisemitic writings allegations as National Rally maintains polling lead.
Bardella rejects budget support, complicating fiscal governance ahead of election
National Rally leader Bardella rejects current 2027 budget support amid France's escalating fiscal crisis.
Le Pen unveils ambitious economic platform targeting 140 billion euros in savings
National Rally's economic platform targets 140 billion euros in savings through tax elimination, pension reform, and reduced EU contributions.
France's media regulator reviews podcast rules ahead of 2027 election
France's media regulator is reviewing podcast regulation as digital creators gain election influence.
Philippe proposes sixty-five retirement age with sector exemptions
Philippe proposes sixty-five retirement age, forty-five contribution years, with exemptions for difficult careers and capitalization components.
Philippe outlines pension reform raising retirement age to sixty-five
Philippe proposes raising France's retirement age to 65 with targeted exemptions and capitalization components.
Mediapart publishes alleged antisemitic writings attributed to Bardella
Mediapart reports alleged antisemitic writings from Bardella; he denies them as forgeries.
National Rally achieves historic Senate milestone with first parliamentary group
National Rally forms first Senate parliamentary group, expanding institutional presence before 2027 election.