Could WhatsApp channels become a major tool in the French presidential campaign? Long considered ineffective for political figures, they are now attracting renewed interest with the launch of a channel dedicated to Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s supporters.

This initiative is part of an international context shaped by the Brazilian experience: through Lula, André Janones demonstrated the power of a WhatsApp group to bring a community together and encourage it to actively participate in a campaign.

In Brazil, “Lula’s Army” has changed the scale of the mobilization

The Brazilian campaign has brought considerable attention to “Lula’s Army,” the WhatsApp group led by Congressman André Janones.

Having become a rallying point for millions of supporters, it has been used to spread messages and organize collective actions in support of the Brazilian president.

Lula won the election against Flávio Bolsonaro. While this victory obviously cannot be attributed to a single communication tool, the role played by Janones and his WhatsApp community has drawn attention far beyond Brazil.

The lesson is clear: messaging can play a central role in the relationship between a campaign and its supporters.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon now has a channel dedicated to his team

In France, this initiative has resonated within La France insoumise.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon already had a personal WhatsApp group. Another group, “Mélenchon’s Official Team,” complements this setup with a focus explicitly aimed at encouraging supporter participation.

In an article published on October 27, 2026, Antoine Léaument reflects on Janones’s experience and describes the WhatsApp group as an additional tool in a system that already includes Telegram and Discord.

This channel has already attracted more than 100,000 subscribers in less than three days, surpassing the candidate's personal channel. This growth should be viewed as a snapshot, as viewership on these platforms changes rapidly.

Following a candidate and joining a team: two different options

The development of this channel calls for distinguishing between two uses.

A public figure's social media channel primarily serves to meet a need for information: to find their statements, follow their movements, and discover their posts.

A channel dedicated to a team fosters a different kind of connection. It gives subscribers the feeling that they are joining a community and taking part in its activities.

This difference can help explain the interest generated by these spaces for engagement. The channel’s name, its promise, and its content make its purpose immediately clear.

However, the number of subscribers remains only a preliminary indicator. On its own, it does not measure actual engagement, the reach of posts, or the impact on the election.

What role will WhatsApp play in the 2027 presidential election?

The initiative by Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s team raises a question for the entire French political landscape: What role will messaging apps play in future campaigns?

The Brazilian case has demonstrated their ability to bring together large communities. The French experience will show whether this interest endures over time and how it translates into supporter engagement.

For communications teams, WhatsApp is thus becoming an area to explore on par with other digital spaces where relationships with their audiences are built.

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