During the 2026 municipal election campaign, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, provocatively adopted Eric Zemmour's 'great replacement' rhetoric to praise a 'new France' that is increasingly diverse. This move aims to establish a counter-narrative on French identity ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where he expects a showdown with the National Rally on these issues.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon has resumed his mobilization by supporting La France Insoumise (LFI) candidates across the country during the 2026 municipal election campaign. These local polls serve as 'a trial run to continue weaving popular resistance and expanding the Insoumise network ahead of 2027,' according to a Mélenchon strategist. At 74 years old, the LFI founder is expected to confirm his fourth presidential candidacy this spring and is using the period to set the themes for his future campaign. Convinced that the 2027 election will hinge on identity issues and what it means to be French, Mélenchon is waging a narrative battle against the National Rally (RN), which he believes he will face in the second round. For months, he has championed the idea of a 'new France,' increasingly diverse, in opposition to the 'great replacement' narrative popularized by the far right. By provocatively invoking this concept, he aims to flip the debate and assert his progressive view of national identity. This approach fits into a context where municipal elections lay the groundwork for national stakes, with no notable contradictions emerging from the available sources.
