French presidential elections 2017: What would France under Jean-Luc Melenchon look like

As the first round of the French Presidential elections 2017 is only days away, we take a look at what France would be like if governed by one of the four main candidates. Jean-Luc Melenchon is the candidate of the Left Party and has branded his movement La France insoumise (Unsubmissive France), using the tone of similar populist movements in Italy and Spain.

The latest polls see Melenchon and Francois Fillon tied for the third position both with 19% in the first round of the presidential election, trailing Marine Le Pen which is credited with 22% and Emmanuel Macron with 24%.

The Sixth Republic and Frexit

From the moment he announced his decision to run for the French Presidential Election as a hologram at a rally in Paris, Melenchon’s made sure his campaign promises are challenging the status-quo.

If Melenchon wins, France would withdraw from NATO and the International Monetary Fund and might even exist the European Union. His five year plans includes  a 100-billion-euro economic stimulus plan funded by government borrowing, corporate nationalization in sectors such as the motorway network and the devaluation of the euro currency.

Not event the country’s constitution is safe when Melenchon becomes the president.

The presidential candidate promotes the idea of a “Sixth Republic” , which would replace the existing political system, abolish the “presidential monarchy” by limiting the power of the president and give power back to the people. The voting age would be lowered from 18 to 16, the Senate upper house of the Parliament would be abolished and multiple elected mandates would no longer be alloweed.

If the 65-year-old candidate backed by the Communist Party wins the election,  France would leave all the international free-trade accords, end the independence of the European Central Bank and take control of Bank of France.

Melenchon aims to renegotiate European Union rules and change the current economic policies and austerity measures currently in place in France.

A failure to renegotiate these demands would trigger a proposal whereby France’s departure from the European Union would go to a referendum vote, leading to a so-called Frexit.

Zero homelessness and legalization of cannabis

France would become a country where homelessness would be banned, while the state will be responsible for full reimbursement for prescribed health care. The Hexagon would follow the Netherlands and legalize marijuana. Melenchon thinks cannabis should be legalized so it can be better controlled.

“Don’t call me a hypocrite. What’s hypocritical is to say it’s forbidden when we know that everyone smokes,” he said in a video posted on his website.

3.5 million new jobs and higher taxes for the rich

Melenchon predicts 3.5 million jobs will be created as a result of hefty public investment in environmental projects and support for public services, including hiring of 60,000 state-employed teachers as well as increases in police numbers.

He also plans to recognize burn-out as an occupation disease and lower the age of retirement from 65 to 60.

Strict application of legal 35-hour week, implying that all hours above that mark be systematically paid at 25-50 percent above the standard pay rate.

The national minimum wage will go up to 16 percent to 1,326 euros ($1,409) net per month for 35 hours worked per week.

Melenchon proposes moving income taxation from a system of five tax bands to a more progressive 14 bands, with any salary above 400,000 euros per year taxed at 90 percent. These measures along higher taxes on property deals and higher sales tax on luxury goods, are predicted to raise 31.5 billion euros a year.

Climate change is another key concern for the Left Party candidate with his programme devoting significant funds for environmental projects and alternative energy which would allow a transition to an economy based on local produce and zero-carbon consumption.