Melenchon's election program does not contain a single line about helping Ukraine — Le Monde

There is not a single line about assistance to Ukraine in the election program of French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. Le Monde writes about this.

According to the newspaper, the program entitled "Our Common Future" contains very few references to Ukraine and does not specify whether France will continue to supply weapons to Kiev if Melenchon comes to power. Instead, the program focuses on achieving a ceasefire and a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. It is planned to hold a security conference with the participation of Russia to revise the existing European security architecture and resume dialogue with Moscow.

Melenchon explicitly stated his intention to withdraw France from NATO. The specific plan provides for a phased exit: first, withdrawal from the NATO joint military command, and then a complete renunciation of membership in the organization. He also opposes an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP and believes that France "should not participate in US wars."

The program criticizes Macron's "double standards" in relation to Ukraine and Lebanon, proposes to impose sanctions against the Israeli government and suspend the association agreement between Israel and the EU, and also allows the creation of a single bi-national state for Israelis and Palestinians.

Melenchon takes a pragmatic position in relation to China, believing that one should not engage in a tough confrontation with it, but it is necessary to deepen cooperation. On human rights issues, the party says it will not use this as an excuse to refuse dialogue with Beijing.

According to opinion polls, Melenchon, although regarded as the strongest candidate from the left, may reach the second round, but, according to forecasts, Marine Le Pen will lose.