Who is Jean-Luc Melenchon? Left-wing presidential candidate who is shaking up the French election – all you need to know
Melenchon is standing to be president for the second time and has a late surge in the polls
THE French Presidential election campaign has been hit by scandal, police investigations and the rise of the far-right, but amid the chaos Jean-Luc Melenchon is making a late surge in the polls.
So who is this left-wing firebrand shaking up the election, and what does he stand for? Here's all you need to know...
Who is Jean-Luc Melenchon?
Jean-Luc Melenchon is a far-left French politician standing for president for the second time.
Born in Tangier he was educated in Normandy, France, and became a teacher before entering politics.
In 1976 he joined the socialist party and went on to serve in several local government and departmental positions.
He left the party in 2008 after falling out with then party leader François Hollande.
He went on to form the French Left party and the France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) coalition.
He was elected an MEP in 2009 and stood in the 2012 Presidential Election coming fourth behind François Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Marine Le Pen
He is standing again in the 2017 election, with the French people heading to the polls on Sunday.
What does Melenchon stand for?
Melenchon is a socialist republican whose key policies include the mass redistribution of wealth, a €100billion economic stimulus plan and a 100per cent tax on earnings above €360,000 a year.
He is also campaigning for increased labour rights, the expansion of the welfare programme and the easing of immigration laws.
The left-winger is a critic of the European Union and has also called for France to leave Nato.
What are his chances in the 2017 General Election?
The top four candidates - Mélenchon, Francois Fillon, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen - are incredibly close in the polls as the campaign draws to a close.
Mélenchon has enjoyed a late surge but Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are expected to top the table in the first round on April 23.
Macron is then expected to edge out his far-right rival to take the presidency in the second vote on May 7.
But, the polls are close and anything could happen come voting day.
MOST READ IN NEWS
