France voted in the first round of its presidential election today with left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon a viable contender in a four-way race following a meteoric rise in recent weeks. Early results place him third, behind Macron and Le Pen.

But his campaign, under the banner of France Insoumise, has succeeded in shifting the debate in France’s presidential election to the Left, forcing discussion of democracy and redistribution into a terrain previously dominated by the Right.

But why has Mélenchon been successful — and what does it mean for France’s left? Jacobin contributor David Broder speaks with Paris-based councilor Clémentine Autain, a spokesperson of Ensemble!, about the conclusion of the campaign and the next steps.