Candidate comparison

Mélenchon vs Tondelier: how alike are they?

We compare the documented positions of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Tondelier on the 46 questions in the test, issue by issue.

Mélenchon

Eco-socialism, democratic socialism, non-alignment

80 %

overall agreement

Tondelier

Political ecology, social left, European federalism

In brief

How do Mélenchon and Tondelier differ?

Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise) and Marine Tondelier (Les Écologistes), allies in the New Popular Front in 2024, agree on taxation, social policy, energy and institutions, but are opposed on Europe and defence. Both support a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes above 100 million euros, bringing back a wealth tax, going back to a retirement age of 62 or lower and rent controls; they want to give legal status to undocumented workers who have a job, keep State medical aid (AME) for undocumented migrants, legalise and regulate cannabis, keep the 2026 assisted dying law and elect members of the National Assembly by proportional representation. Both oppose new nuclear reactors and want to keep developing wind power. Tondelier, however, supports continued military aid to Ukraine, higher military spending and more EU decisions by majority without a national veto, which Mélenchon rejects; he wants to leave NATO’s integrated command, give French law precedence over European law and introduce compulsory national service, which she rejects. They also differ on scrapping low-emission zones, which Mélenchon supports and Tondelier 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

Pensions

All pensions should rise at least in line with inflation.

Mélenchon Strongly in favour

His 2026 plan would index "all pensions, family allowances and housing benefits" to inflation, raise them by 10%, and rejects de-indexing pensions.

Tondelier Against

Her party's 2026 programme proposes indexing pensions 'in a fair and differentiated way' and 'under-indexing the highest pensions': not all would keep pace with inflation.

Europe

The European Union should take more decisions by majority, without a veto for each country.

Mélenchon Against

His programme plans to "use France’s veto"; in 2024 his movement wanted to "keep unanimity" on foreign and defence policy, though it would scrap it on tax matters.

Tondelier Strongly in favour

Her party's 2026 programme proposes to 'replace national vetoes with qualified majority voting', including on tax and foreign and security policy.

Foreign affairs and defence

France should continue to give military aid to Ukraine.

Mélenchon Against

In 2025 he wrote that Ukraine "can no longer win"; his 2025 programme only plans diplomatic action, and in 2024 his group voted against the French-Ukrainian security agreement.

Tondelier Strongly in favour

Her party's 2026 programme seeks to 'support Ukraine militarily': equipment 'including long-range strike capabilities', air defence and training of its forces.

Foreign affairs and defence

France should leave NATO’s integrated military command.

Mélenchon Strongly in favour

His programme proposes to "withdraw immediately from NATO’s integrated command and then, step by step, from the organisation itself".

Tondelier Against

Her party's 2026 programme seeks a European defence independent of the US, but says 'we cannot do without the Atlantic Alliance in the short term'.

Foreign affairs and defence

There should be compulsory national service for all young people.

Mélenchon Strongly in favour

His programme proposes a nine-month compulsory "citizen conscription" for women and men under 25, paid at the minimum wage, with basic military training and public-interest tasks.

Tondelier Against

Her party's 2026 programme criticises the 'security-driven supervision' of a 'universal civic service' and wants more voluntary civic service placements instead.

Common ground

Where they agree

Economy, taxes and debt

There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros.

Both: Strongly in favour

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

By issue

Agreement by issue

Economy, taxes and debt 100 %

Pensions 75 %

Work and cost of living 85 %

Health 88 %

Immigration 96 %

Security and justice 100 %

Education and youth 67 %

Energy, climate and farming 81 %

Europe 50 %

Foreign affairs and defence 35 %

Institutions and democracy 92 %

Society, secularism and regions 92 %

Detail

Question by question

Economy, taxes and debt 100 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
There should be a minimum tax of 2% on fortunes worth more than 100 million euros.	Strongly in favour	Strongly 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 75 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
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	Strongly against
All pensions should rise at least in line with inflation.	Strongly in favour	Against

Work and cost of living 85 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
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	Against
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 88 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
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	In favour

Immigration 96 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
There should be a referendum on immigration.	Against	Strongly 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	Against
Undocumented migrants should keep access to State medical aid (AME).	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour
Family reunification should be suspended.	Strongly against	Strongly against

Security and justice 100 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
Police officers and gendarmes should be presumed to have acted in self-defence.	Strongly against	Strongly 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	Strongly in favour
Rubber-bullet launchers (LBD) and grenades should be banned at demonstrations.	In favour	In favour

Education and youth 67 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
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	In favour

Energy, climate and farming 81 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
France should build new nuclear reactors.	Strongly against	Strongly against
Wind power should continue to be developed.	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour
Low-emission zones (ZFE) in large cities should be scrapped.	In favour	Against
Glyphosate and neonicotinoids should be banned.	Strongly in favour	In favour

Europe 50 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
French law should take precedence over European law.	In favour	Against
The European Union should take more decisions by majority, without a veto for each country.	Against	Strongly in favour
France should leave the European Union.	Against	Strongly against

Foreign affairs and defence 35 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
France should continue to give military aid to Ukraine.	Against	Strongly in favour
France should leave NATO’s integrated military command.	Strongly in favour	Against
France should offer to extend its nuclear deterrent to its European partners.	Against	In favour
There should be compulsory national service for all young people.	Strongly in favour	Against
France should increase its military spending.	Against	In favour

Institutions and democracy 92 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
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 92 %

Question	Mélenchon	Tondelier
The 2026 law allowing assisted dying should be kept.	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour
Corsica should be able to make its own rules in some areas.	In favour	Strongly in favour
Girls under 18 should not be allowed to wear the headscarf in public spaces.	Strongly against	Strongly against

What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?

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