On November 6 local time, the French left-wing party ‘Unbowed France’ released its latest platform, outlining the political agenda of its leader Jean-Luc Melenchon for the 2027 French presidential elections, advocating for France’s withdrawal from NATO. Currently, Melenchon ranks second in the latest polls and is likely to enter the second round of the presidential elections next year.
The program of the ‘Unyielding France’ party proposes that if Mélançon is elected as the next French president, France will immediately withdraw from the NATO integrated command structure, and then phase out its participation in NATO. It also refuses to allocate 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defense expenditures. However, the program adds that France, under the leadership of Mélançon, will continue to provide assistance to EU countries in accordance with EU treaties.
The 'Unyielding France' party also opposes a 'space arms race', promising to close NATO's space center located in Toulouse, France.
Regarding defense issues, Meunier’s party believes that France currently relies on the United States through NATO for military equipment in areas such as communications, intelligence, and logistics. France should increase investment in these “key enabling equipment” and improve its ability to produce equipment independently. The party also hopes to nationalize some important French defense companies, including the Ariane Group.
Regarding the Ukraine issue, the ‘Indomitable France’ party did not explicitly state that it will stop providing military assistance to Ukraine, but insisted that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict must be resolved through diplomatic means. The party stated that any peace agreement would depend on ‘safety guarantees between the warring parties and with other European countries.’
France will hold presidential elections in April 2027. Recent polls show that Marine Le Pen, the leader of the right-wing "National Union," has a significant lead in support, with Emmanuel Macron of the left-wing party holding a stable second place. Both candidates could enter the second round of the presidential election. However, with about half a year left until the elections, the political situation in France remains volatile, and the outcome may change.
