Candidate comparison
Mélenchon vs Roussel: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Fabien Roussel on the 46 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Mélenchon and Roussel differ?
Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise) and Fabien Roussel (French Communist Party), allies in the New Popular Front in 2024, take the same side on the vast majority of test statements where both have a sourced position. Both support bringing back a wealth tax, going back to a retirement age of 62 or lower, raising all pensions at least in line with inflation, a minimum wage of at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions, keeping the 35-hour week and rent controls; they reject cutting public spending first and reducing the number of public servants. They also want to scrap Parcoursup, leave NATO’s integrated command, elect members of the National Assembly by proportional representation, create a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC) and move to a Sixth Republic. Their clearest disagreement is on nuclear power: Roussel wants to build new reactors and Mélenchon opposes it. Mélenchon supports compulsory national service and letting Corsica make its own rules in some areas, which Roussel rejects; Roussel supports banning social media for children under 15, which Mélenchon rejects.
This summary is based on the candidates’ documented positions on the test statements; the source of each position is on each candidate’s page. Updated 19/10/2026.
Differences
Where they clash most
Energy, climate and farming
France should build new nuclear reactors.
Foreign affairs and defence
There should be compulsory national service for all young people.
Society, secularism and regions
Corsica should be able to make its own rules in some areas.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy, taxes and debt
To reduce the deficit, public spending should be cut first, rather than raising taxes.
Both: Strongly against
Economy, taxes and debt
The number of public servants should be reduced.
Both: Strongly against
Economy, taxes and debt
A wealth tax should be brought back.
Both: Strongly in favour
Pensions
The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower.
Both: Strongly in favour
Pensions
The legal retirement age should rise to 65.
Both: Strongly against
Pensions
Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar).
Both: Against
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy, taxes and debt 94 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| To reduce the deficit, public spending should be cut first, rather than raising taxes. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The number of public servants should be reduced. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| A wealth tax should be brought back. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Pensions 94 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| The legal retirement age should go back to 62 or lower. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| The legal retirement age should rise to 65. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Part of pensions should be funded by invested savings (a funded pillar). | Against | Against |
| All pensions should rise at least in line with inflation. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
Work and cost of living 90 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The legal working week should stay at 35 hours. | In favour | In favour |
| VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Rent controls should apply in all large cities. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Health 100 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| The State should be able to require doctors to set up practice in areas that lack them. | In favour | In favour |
| Funding for public hospitals should be greatly increased, even if it costs the State more. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Immigration 88 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a referendum on immigration. | Against | Against |
| Birthright citizenship (“droit du sol”) should be abolished. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Undocumented workers who have a job should be given legal status. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Social housing and jobs should go to French citizens first. | Against | Strongly against |
| Undocumented migrants should keep access to State medical aid (AME). | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Family reunification should be suspended. | Strongly against | Against |
Security and justice 75 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| Police officers and gendarmes should be presumed to have acted in self-defence. | Strongly against | Against |
| Judges should have to give repeat offenders mandatory minimum sentences. | Against | Against |
| The sale of cannabis should be legalised and regulated. | Strongly in favour | In between |
| Rubber-bullet launchers (LBD) and grenades should be banned at demonstrations. | In favour | In between |
Education and youth 75 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| Social media should be banned for children under 15. | Against | In favour |
| School uniform should be compulsory in primary and lower secondary school. | Strongly against | Against |
| Parcoursup should be scrapped. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Energy, climate and farming 63 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| France should build new nuclear reactors. | Strongly against | Strongly in favour |
| Wind power should continue to be developed. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Low-emission zones (ZFE) in large cities should be scrapped. | In favour | In favour |
| Glyphosate and neonicotinoids should be banned. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
Europe 100 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| French law should take precedence over European law. | In favour | In favour |
| The European Union should take more decisions by majority, without a veto for each country. | Against | Against |
| France should leave the European Union. | Against | Against |
Foreign affairs and defence 70 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| France should continue to give military aid to Ukraine. | Against | In between |
| France should leave NATO’s integrated military command. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| France should offer to extend its nuclear deterrent to its European partners. | Against | Strongly against |
| There should be compulsory national service for all young people. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| France should increase its military spending. | Against | Strongly against |
Institutions and democracy 92 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the National Assembly should be elected by proportional representation. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| There should be a citizens’ initiative referendum (RIC). | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| A constituent assembly should be called to create a Sixth Republic. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
Society, secularism and regions 58 %
| Question | Mélenchon | Roussel |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 law allowing assisted dying should be kept. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Corsica should be able to make its own rules in some areas. | In favour | Strongly against |
| Girls under 18 should not be allowed to wear the headscarf in public spaces. | Strongly against | Against |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
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