Mélenchon's France Unbowed platform calls for NATO exit and nationalized defense firms

In brief

• Jean-Luc Mélenchon's France Unbowed party has written a NATO exit and nationalization of defense firms into its official 2027 program.
• Polls place Mélenchon second and possibly in a runoff against Marine Le Pen, who also opposes NATO's integrated command.
• The program rejects 5% of GDP defense spending and keeps EU mutual-aid commitments, while calling for a diplomatic path on Ukraine.

Party platform sets out NATO exit

The party of far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon, France Unbowed, published its official program on Friday. The 222-page document calls for France to leave NATO's integrated command immediately and to withdraw from the alliance in stages afterward (Французькі ультраліві закріпили вихід із НАТО в офіційній програмі – Європейська правда) (Może w przyszłym roku zostać prezydentem Francji. Chce wycofania kraju z NATO – Onet). It also rejects the US demand that member states spend 5% of GDP on defense and proposes nationalizing defense companies.

Polls and the runoff

Recent surveys increasingly place Mélenchon second among voter preferences ahead of next year's presidential election. The two candidates with the most votes advance to a runoff, where he could face Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, who has also pledged to take France out of NATO's integrated command.

Position on Ukraine and EU obligations

The program says that under Mélenchon, France would still provide assistance to EU member states in line with EU treaties. Unlike Le Pen's party, France Unbowed does not say outright that it would halt aid to Ukraine, but it insists on a diplomatic settlement. Any peace deal, the party says, must rest on collective security guarantees between the parties to the conflict and the rest of Europe.

Campaign launch and social agenda

Mélenchon presented his platform on Saturday at Le Bourget, north of Paris, to a crowd he put at around 20,000 people („Musíme všechno změnit.“ Mélenchon představil své plány pro Francii – Seznam Zprávy) (France Unbowed’s Mélenchon unveils ‘A Shared Future’ manifesto ahead of 2027 presidential race – France 24). He is seeking the presidency for a fourth time. He promised a higher minimum wage and a return to a retirement age of 60. He said the country needs a fundamental change in direction.

Arms control and space

The party backs tighter rules on weapons, including lethal autonomous systems and nuclear arms, and opposes an arms race in space.

What happens next

The election is scheduled for April next year. The program now stands as the party's official position, and polling will show whether the NATO question shapes the runoff.