Speaking to France’s TF1 television channel, the 74-year-old campaigner called for a common front with Spain against the war being waged by the US and Israel in the Middle East.

“We are threatened by a widespread war, we are threatened by a spectacular change in the climate, and now we have an economic and social crisis approaching,” he said.

He said that while the main political threat in next year’s presidential election appeared to come from the far-right National Rally, he added: “I think we’re going to beat them hands down.”

The National Rally’s presidential candidate will be either 57-year-old Marine Le Pen or her lieutenant — 30-year-old party leader Jordan Bardella.

An appeal court ruling due in July on her conviction over a fake jobs scam in the European Parliament may prevent Le Pen from running for the presidency next year.

Some believe Melenchon could manage to reach the second round for the first time if the centrist vote were split between several candidates.

Melenchon came in fourth in the 2012 and 2017 elections, and third in the last polls in 2022.