Fifteen months before the 2027 presidential election, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumise, hosted a colloquium in Paris to persuade small business representatives of his economic vision's benefits. He excluded the Medef and invited groups like the CPME and U2P, while joking about his political image. This outreach effort leaves attendees skeptical.
On January 24, 2026, at the Institut La Boétie in Paris, the think tank of La France insoumise (LFI), Jean-Luc Mélenchon opened a colloquium titled 'Is neoliberalism compatible with small businesses?'. Addressing representatives from small and medium-sized enterprise groups, such as the Confédération des petites et moyennes entreprises (CPME), the Confédération nationale de l'artisanat des métiers et des services, the Confédération de l'artisanat et des petites entreprises du bâtiment (Capeb), and the Union des entreprises de proximité (U2P), he aimed to show that his movement is not opposed to modest business owners.
In a presidentialization strategy ahead of a potential fourth candidacy in 2027, Mélenchon emphasized LFI's readiness to govern. He differentiated 'good bosses' from SMEs and TPEs from the 'bad' ones represented by multinationals and the CAC 40. 'No, the movement is not the enemy of business owners,' he stated, clarifying that there are no plans to nationalize hairdressers, restaurants, or masons.
The L’Avenir en commun program advocates breaking with capitalism, and Mélenchon highlighted the benefits of economic planning for small structures. He even joked: 'Here I am, a Trotsky-Poujadist because I'm meeting you.' This outreach, avoiding the Medef seen as 'big capital,' elicits mixed reactions from attendees, who remain skeptical about these proposals.
The colloquium fits into a broader effort to expand LFI's voter base among artisans and shopkeepers, eighteen months before the presidential vote.
