France's left-wing primary: The manifestos

The leftist ‘idealist’

The tough-talking ‘realist’

Creation of a universal basic income

Hamon advocates gradually introducing a universal basic income in France. Initially, the programme would only affect young people between the ages of 18 and 25, as well as welfare beneficiaries, who would receive a monthly stipend of €600 from the state. It would then be expanded to the rest of the population, who would be eligible to receive up to €750 per month. The ultimate goal would be to reduce the workweek to less than 35 hours, therefore creating more employment.

Creation of a decent living wage

Valls is opposed to the idea of a universal basic income. Instead, he advocates establishing a decent living wage, which would be made up of social benefits and allocated to those over the age of 18, depending on resources. The goal would be to ensure a minimum wage of at least €800 per month. Anyone earning less would be eligible for additional welfare benefits.

Overturn labour reforms

Hamon wants to overturn recent reforms designed to make France’s labour market more flexible, partly by enabling companies to lay off workers more easily. The controversial legislation – also known as the El Khomri law after its author, Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri – sparked weeks of mass protests across the country last year.

Keep labour reforms

Valls is a staunch supporter of the labour reforms, which he more or less forced through parliament as prime minister.

Disregard EU Stability and Growth Pact

Hamon is against the European Union’s Stability and Growth Pact, which requires member countries to keep their budget deficit under 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Respect EU Stability and Growth Pact

Valls wants to “maintain the deficit just below a bar of 3 percent”, but “without making further cuts”.

Tax robots

Hamon vows to tax the extra money generated by robots that replace workers in order to finance social protections.

Detaxation of overtime hours

In an effort to increase purchasing power, Valls promises to introduce an amended version of a past right-wing measure that eliminates taxes on overtime work.

Expand renewable energy to 50 percent by 2025

Hamon wants to create subsidies that would allow individuals to install renewable energy sources, such as solar, in their homes.

Reduce nuclear to 50 percent by 2025

Valls wants to reduce nuclear’s role in energy production from 75 to 50 percent between now and 2025.

Relaunch Europe

Hamon says he will appeal to the European Union to invest €1 trillion in renewable energy. He also advocates introducing a European-wide minimum wage, which would be set at 60 percent of the average income.

Rebuild Europe

Valls says he will organise a conference with Germany on rebuilding the European Union in a bid to strengthen the bloc and “refocus Europe on its main goals”. He also backs the idea of a European-wide minimum wage, but has not said how it will be calculated. Lastly, he wants major European investment in renewable energy and digital technology.

Increase security spending

Hamon vows to increase the defence and national security budget to 3 percent of the GDP.

Increase defence budget

Hire 40,000 more teachers

Hamon wants to hire 40,000 more teachers: 20,000 for primary schools, 15,000 for higher education, 2,000 substitutes and 3,000 “floating” teachers for nursery schools in underserved communities.

Increase teacher salaries

Instead of hiring more teachers, Valls pledges to reexamine the salaries and status of those already working for the national education system.

Pro-legalising cannabis

Hamon says he wants to legalise cannabis use in France in order to “kill drug trafficking at its source and protect our citizens from dealers”.

Anti-legalising cannabis

Pro-assisted reproduction for all

Hamon wants to grant single women and same-sex couples the right to assisted reproduction.

Open to a debate on assisted reproduction

Valls says he is open to holding a national debate on assisted reproduction for same-sex couples.