French Politicswith Dr. Amine Zidouh
    France’s Presidential Elections
    Back to the spectrum

    France's Presidential Elections / Past candidates

    Not running in 2027

    This page is a reference for readers who meet Philippe Poutou in the story of earlier elections. It is not a 2027 candidate profile.

    Portrait of Philippe Poutou

    Philippe Poutou

    Former presidential candidate of the NPA

    Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste logo

    Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste

    Philippe Poutou belongs to NPA – l'Anticapitaliste, which announced it would not field a candidate in 2027. In view of the danger from the far right, which the party sees as closer to power than ever, it chose to work for a broad antifascist front and to support Jean-Luc Mélenchon instead of standing separately.

    2017 and 2022

    Philippe Poutou in 2017 and 2022

    2017

    1.09%first round

    Ran as NPA

    2022

    0.77%first round

    Ran as NPA

    Share of votes cast. Source: Constitutional Council 2017, 2022. The tick marks 5%.

    Background

    Who Philippe is

    A factory worker by trade, Philippe Poutou carried the Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste in 2017 and 2022. His 2017 result was 1.09% and his 2022 result was 0.77%.

    The NPA has since divided in two. NPA – l'Anticapitaliste, which includes Poutou and Olivier Besancenot, supports Mélenchon. NPA – Révolutionnaires kept its own presidential candidacy and designated Selma Labib. The two organisations claim the same history but take opposite positions on 2027.

    The 2027 link

    NPA – Révolutionnaires, which kept an independent candidacy, is represented in 2027 by Selma Labib.

    Read the Selma Labib profile

    Same family, different names

    LCR to NPA, then two parties

    A party dissolved itself into a wider project, which later split in two over 2027. Renaming is common in French politics: parties often change name, logo and structure while staying the same political family.

    1. 1974 / Ligue communiste révolutionnaire. The Trotskyist organisation behind Olivier Besancenot's presidential runs.
    2. 2009 / Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste. Founded in 2009 to open the LCR's project to a wider audience. Philippe Poutou carried it in 2017 and 2022.
    3. Now / NPA – l'Anticapitaliste. Will not field a candidate and supports Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
    4. Now / NPA – Révolutionnaires. Runs Selma Labib as an independent revolutionary candidate.

    Explore the interactive guide to French party rebranding

    Sources: Constitutional Council, 2017 results; 2022 results. Page prepared from public records and updated as the 2027 field is confirmed.

    Image credits & sources

    Photo: Philippe Poutou - Gilets jaunes (2019).jpg. Patrice CALATAYU from Bordeaux, France. Via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0. Original source. Downscaled copy of the Commons file.

    Logo: NPA – l'Anticapitaliste: Logo du NPA - l'Anticapitaliste.jpg. Unknown author. Via Wikimedia Commons. CC0. Original source. Imported without retouching.

    Teaching and learning

    Intended audience: Undergraduate students in French studies, history, political science and related fields; independent adult learners.

    Suggested uses: Guided reading, seminar discussion, comparative political analysis and media-literacy activities.

    After using this resource, learners should be able to:

    • Explain the electoral and institutional context of the election examined.
    • Compare candidates or political positions using the sources available in this resource.
    • Distinguish official results, polling scenarios and critical interpretation.

    Use the objectives that correspond to the material available on this page. Collection pages provide entry points to individual resources; unfinished or unavailable material is not a completed learning activity.

    Original materials © Dr. Amine Zidouh / French Politics, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 unless otherwise indicated. When sharing or reproducing covered material, credit Dr. Amine Zidouh and French Politics, link to the source and license, and identify changes. Images, protest signs, artworks and other third-party materials are excluded. See Rights, Credits & Educational Reuse for scope, attribution and the as-is disclaimer.