Jean-Luc Mélenchon
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (December 2008) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Jean-Luc Mélenchon (born 19 August 1951 in Tangier) is a former member of the Senate of France, representing the Essonne department. He left the Socialist Party in November 2008[1] to found the Left Party[2] with French deputy Marc Dolez.
As leader of the Left Party, he joined the Left Front before the 2009 European elections and was selected as the coalition's top candidate in the South-West region. His list won 8.16%, and he was elected to the European Parliament.
Today, Jean-Luc Mélenchon is the co-president of the Left Party (the other being Martine Billard).
During the protestation movement against pension's reform of 2010, his notoriety grew up thanks to many public and TV appearances.
Personal life
He was educated at the Lycée Pierre Corneille in Rouen[3]
Political ideas
Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a socialist republican, mainly inspired by Jean Jaurès (great founder of French republican socialism) and using the analysis provided by Karl Marx to understand the crisis of Market Capitalism. Although an ally of the Communists, he is not himself a Communist.
Former defender of European federalism, Jean-Luc Mélenchon has today given up on that part of his political commitment, saying that "the European Union is no longer a solution but a problem, because economic liberalism has totally corrupted the institution and makes it impossible to achieve democratic change which is necessary in the EU, all power belonging to technocrats with no popular legitimity."
Based on experience in South America, Jean-Luc Mélenchon promotes a "citizens' revolution" (révolution citoyenne), a new method that respect the democratic process to win elections and change the constitution. This "citizens revolution" should lead to inverting the sharing out of produced wealth between capital, represented by shareholders, and the working class in a broad sense (anyone who actually works to earn money). It will also lead to a new constitution that will initiate the 6th French Republic, where the president has less power and Parliament has more. Jean-Luc Mélenchon also insists on the importance of "popular involvment" by the way of referendums on any essential subject.
Political career
Governmental functions
Minister of Vocational Education : 2000-2002
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament : Since 2009. Elected in 2009
Senate of France
Senator of Essonne : 1986-2000 (Became minister in 2000) / 2004-2010 (Resignation, elected in European Parliament in 2009). Elected in 1986, reelected in 1995, 2004.
General Council
Vice-president of the General Council of Essonne : 1998-2000 (Resignation).
General councillor of Essonne : 1985-1992 / 1998-2004. Reelected in 1998.
Municipal Council
Deputy-mayor of Massy, Essonne : 1989-1995.
Municipal councillor of Massy, Essonne : 1983-2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
Political function
President of the Left Party (France) : Since 2008
References
External links
