Nine French Communist Deputies Back Jean-Luc Mélenchon Over Fabien Roussel for 2027 Presidential Race

French communist deputies back Jean-Luc Mélenchon in 2027 presidential race, Digi Mart USA News (France): Most of the Communist Party group in the French National Assembly has announced it will support Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the 2027 presidential election rather than Fabien Roussel, the candidate of their own party. Roussel, mayor of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux in northern France, was abandoned by the majority of his group, while Mélenchon, of La France Insoumise, welcomed the move.

In a statement sent to the AFP news agency, the majority of the Communist group said: “We commit to supporting the candidacy of Jean-Luc Mélenchon for the presidential election.” The deputies added that “none of us is Insoumis, nor plans to become one,” and said they were taking responsibility “beyond our party ties” ahead of an election with immense stakes.

Nine of the group’s 17 deputies now back Mélenchon, including group president Stéphane Peu, Hauts-de-Seine deputy Elsa Faucillon and five deputies from overseas French territories. According to the report, their support also secures backing from La France Insoumise for upcoming legislative elections.

The announcement came the day after hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the call of trade unions. La France Insoumise is due to present its program, “L’Avenir en Commun,” at a large rally in Le Bourget on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Roussel’s entourage said he would not comment publicly. His supporters suggested the party might issue a statement later in the day or after its national council.

No public appearance by Roussel was scheduled.

Roussel was re-elected without surprise as national secretary of the Communist Party at its 40th congress in Lille in July, with more than 70% of the vote. He announced his presidential candidacy in September.

In 2022 he won 2.28% of the votes cast, a weak score that, according to Mélenchon’s inner circle, denied the Insoumis candidate a runoff against Emmanuel Macron.

According to the latest IFOP poll dated November 3, 2026, Marine Le Pen is credited with 35% in the first round, with Mélenchon in second place at 18%. Roussel does not exceed 2%.