French leftist presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants a radical overhaul of EU rules, according to his presidential platform unveiled Friday. The report says the plan would set him on a collision course with Brussels.
The manifesto from his party, France Unbowed, proposes a "new deal" for Europe. It calls for redrafting the EU treaties and dropping core parts of the EU rulebook, including debt and deficit limits. It also proposes suspending competition rules for public services such as energy, transport and telecoms, and loosening state aid laws.
The manifesto says France would "immediately implement our program at the national level," which "will therefore require a confrontation with European institutions." It also states that a France led by Mélenchon would disobey EU rules that block the plan "whenever necessary." If a treaty deal is reached, the manifesto says it would be put to a referendum.
The manifesto also says the European Central Bank should be "placed under democratic control and mobilized to fund the ecological and social transition."
POLITICO reports that the proposals would likely face strong opposition from France's partners in the European Council, which it describes as currently dominated by more conservative leaders.
Earlier this year, Mélenchon said he would "set fire" to a large part of France's public debt held by the ECB. That remark drew heavy criticism and set off a nationwide debate.
The report notes that France has public debt of 117.5% of GDP and a public deficit above 5%. It says fiscal issues have become a central concern for voters ahead of the 2027 election. Mélenchon has enjoyed a recent surge in the polls, according to the report.