ABSTRACT
This chapter devotes to an analysis of the discourse of Jean-Luc Melenchon in the two presidential campaigns of 2012 and 2017, with the aim of contributing to answering the key questions: the newness of left-wing populism; its concrete content; its consequences on the radical left; and its democratic implications. The chapter discusses the relationship between populism and left-wing radicalism, putting forward an interpretation that sees them sharing a similar discursive structure except for the identification with the people, which may or may not overlap depending on the context. It provides an overview of the use of populist rhetoric in the history of the French radical left. The chapter carries out a quantitative and qualitative analysis of Melenchon’s discourse in the 2012 and 2017 campaigns, fleshing out the precise features of his use of populist rhetoric. It discusses the broader consequences of the ‘populist turn’ for the French radical left and French democracy.
