French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has called for the cultural liberation of France from influences he describes as fascist and racist, urging a popular resistance movement to confront what he sees as deeply rooted racism.

Mélenchon says everyone should experience different cultures. His appeal brings together an emphasis on cultural encounters and a call for collective action: he wants people both to experience cultures beyond their own and to organise against the influences he condemns.

The call sets out a broad cultural and political ambition, rather than a detailed programme for how such a movement would operate.