A 74-year-old French radical socialist, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has captured the hearts of Gen Z with his promise of a 'citizens' revolution' and a more inclusive, anti-racist world.
Mélenchon's Unsubmissive France (LFI) party has taken towns with symbolic significance, including Saint-Denis and Roubaix, and has a strong following among students and ethnic minorities.
His pitch, which combines vintage class warfare with modern critical race theory, has resonated with a fretful younger generation and has earned him a 58% favorable rating among 18- to 24-year-olds.
Mélenchon's 'magic mix' of educated young voters, ethnic minorities, and those living in social housing has made him a formidable force in French politics, but his domineering character and disregard for democratic norms have raised concerns.
