French presidential hopeful Mélenchon set to launch campaign by vowing to lower retirement age

Hard-left French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon will pledge to raise the minimum wage and restore the country's retirement ​age to ‌60 when he launches his 2027 election programme on Saturday. Mélenchon, 75, ⁠is viewed as the strongest contender on the left and recent opinion polls have shown him reaching the presidential runoff ‌next April against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen – but also indicate ⁠he would lose in the second round. His manifesto, titled "L'Avenir en commun" ("A Shared Future"), is the fifth edition of the platform of his party, France Unbowed (LFI), and ​largely reaffirms policies that have formed the backbone of Mélenchon's previous ‌presidential bids. Read moreFrench presidential election: How far-left Mélenchon became a Gen Z favourite Among its flagship pledges is the repeal of President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, which gradually raised France's minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 in an effort to shore up ‌public finances. LFI says it would restore retirement at 60 for people who have contributed to the system for 40 years. The ​programme also calls for increasing the net monthly minimum wage to €1,700 from around €1,480 and includes pla...