Jean-Luc Mélenchon holds first 2027 campaign rally in Saint-Denis, accuses National Rally of 'supremacism'

Jean-Luc Mélenchon held his first campaign rally for the 2027 French presidential election on Sunday, June 7, in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), accusing the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) of promoting "supremacism" and declaring that the idea of a left-wing primary was "finished."

The rally took place outdoors at Place Victor Hugo, between the town hall and the Basilica of Saint-Denis. La France insoumise (LFI) said around 26,000 people attended. The event was Mélenchon's first major campaign gathering since formally announcing his candidacy in early May.

Mélenchon accused the RN of promoting "suprémacisme" (supremacism), which he defined as "a desire to establish a human hierarchy to dominate peoples by dividing them along ethnic and religious lines." "In France, supremacism is championed by the RN," he said. He described RN president Jordan Bardella as a "staunch Trump supporter" and criticized his stance on birthright citizenship. "Mr Bardella even wants to abolish birthright citizenship," Mélenchon said, calling such a move an "anti-national crime."

"We believe that our country is not racist, our country is not fascist," Mélenchon told the crowd.

Mélenchon called for dismantling "media-cultural trusts" as a first legislative measure if elected, after a lengthy attack on billionaires who control media and publishing houses. He said he would set the minimum wage (SMIC) at 1,700 euros if elected and reaffirmed his goal to restore the retirement age to 60 or after 40 years of contributions.

On territorial issues, Mélenchon said New Caledonia "will move toward independence" and that LFI would "specifically accompany Corsica toward the extended autonomy that its people demand."

Addressing the divided left, Mélenchon declared: "The primary is finished." He added: "It is us [LFI] who have won the honor of marching in the front line" against the RN.

Prominent cultural figures attended the rally, including Nobel Prize-winning author Annie Ernaux and Prix Goncourt winner Eric Vuillard.

Mélenchon had surpassed 300,000 "citizen endorsements" by June 5, double the 150,000 LFI had set as a threshold. Polls in early June put Mélenchon at 12.5% to 15% of first-round voting intentions.

The rally came as other left-wing parties remain divided over a potential primary. The Greens officially support a primary, with Marine Tondelier as a candidate, but internal opponents are pushing for a motion to prepare the party for a candidacy without one. The Socialist Party is split between supporters of Olivier Faure, who backs a two-stage primary, and those who prefer Raphaël Glucksmann, who has said he will decide on his candidacy in the autumn. Glucksmann told France 2 that Mélenchon "is not going to win" and that "our line is majority on the left."