France’s Mélenchon sees Spain’s Sánchez as inspiration for fixing public finances
The leftist candidate also doubled down on a proposal to write off a chunk of the French debt.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon drew parallels between Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and France's economic prospects, citing the latter's improved public finances following a shift towards greater public spending. Speaking at a budget-focused press conference, the 75-year-old left-wing presidential candidate highlighted Spain's reduction in its deficit and debt-to-GDP ratio as a result of investments in green energy and wage increases.
Mélenchon proposed an €82 billion "emergency spending" package to spur growth, which includes raising the minimum wage, increasing public-sector salaries, and providing financial support to welfare recipients and students. He also suggested writing off billions of euros in French debt held by the European Central Bank, a move that has drawn criticism.
Polls indicate Mélenchon and Édouard Philippe, the center-right candidate, are closely matched in the race for a second-round runoff against far-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen. Spain's economy has shown resilience, with a projected growth rate of 2.5% in 2026, despite inflation concerns.
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