00:01France's political left called for unity at a rally in Paris on Tuesday night following the announcement of hard-left
00:07France unbowed party's leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon that he'll be running for the presidency in 2027.
00:13The move has sparked discontent among the country's more moderate leftists, who would rather someone less polarizing than the 74
00:21-year-old French politics veteran.
00:24Lawmakers from the leftist Green Party, the Socialists and the after-party have cast doubt over his chances of winning,
00:30given his track record in his three prior attempts in 2012, 2017 and 2022.
00:37Mélenchon has failed to reach a runoff vote in all three, but believes his chances this time round are far
00:43higher.
00:44His biggest challenge will be against the far-right national rally, who've been gaining popularity over the years across France's
00:51mainstream.
00:52Speaking to local media, Mélenchon called for a common front with Spain against the war being waged by the U
00:58.S. in Iran and against Israel in the Middle East.
01:02He also warned that Europe is threatened by a widespread war and a looming economic and social crisis, which he
01:08has previously blamed on capitalism.
01:11Mélenchon expressed confidence in his party's ability to win, saying, quote,
01:16I think we're going to beat them, hands down.
01:19The national rally's candidate will either be embattled 57-year-old Marine Le Pen, widely regarded as the face of
01:27right-wing politics in the country, or her lieutenant 30-year-old party leader, Jordan Bardella.
01:33Their candidate will be selected after a decision is taken by an appeals court in July on Le Pen's eligibility,
01:39after she was handed a political ban over her party's misuse of EU funds.
01:44France's left say they want to create a, quote, real union excluding France unbowed, and hold a primary to decide
01:51on their candidate.
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