Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the political movement La France insoumise and a candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, gave a campaign speech at the Lille braderie, a traditional fall fair in northern France, on September 5. According to La France insoumise, the event drew around 12,000 people. Mélenchon addressed several key issues, including the recent debate over the right to wear a veil, which has been a contentious topic in French politics. He criticized the far-right Rassemblement national (RN) for focusing on such divisive issues, arguing that France should not be defined by "inept discussions on the veil" when presenting itself to the world. He also condemned the remarks made by Jordan Bardella, the leader of the RN, who had suggested that undocumented migrants intercepted in British waters would be sent back to France if the RN came to power. Mélenchon’s comments came in response to a symbolic agreement signed the day before with Nigel Farage, leader of the UK’s Reform party. The agreement outlined plans for cooperation if both parties gain power in their respective countries. Bardella’s comments, which have drawn criticism from various quarters, have been seen as a provocation and a challenge to European unity. Shifting focus to economic policy, Mélenchon outlined a series of measures aimed at improving the purchasing power of French citizens. He proposed capping prices, profit margins, and rents to prevent evictions during the winter months. He also suggested providing free organic meals to all students, a proposal that received enthusiastic support from his audience. Mélenchon revisited a controversial summer statement in which he suggested "burning" France’s debt owed to the European Central Bank. He clarified that his remarks were taken out of context, emphasizing that he had said the debt should be canceled, not destroyed—though he had used hyperbolic language such as "burn it, put it in the fridge, or hang it from the ceiling" to make his point. For weeks, Mélenchon has faced criticism from the French government and centrist political candidates, who accuse him of being irresponsible regarding the issue of national debt. Despite the backlash, his speech in Lille underscored his commitment to addressing economic inequality and challenging the political status quo.