Hamon announced his intention to seek the French presidency in August 2016. Critical of the social-liberal politics conducted by Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls, he represents the left-wing and politically green side of the Socialist Party during this primary. Hamon is considered an admirer of United States Senator Bernie Sanders.
He wants to rethink society and its relation to work by giving a basic income to all French citizens, considering that work in the future will become rare and executed by the growing robotization in companies. He supports a 35 hour workweek, and less if a worker wants in exchange for state compensation, and supports the legalization of cannabis and euthanasia. He is also arguing for huge investments in renewable energy, aiming for renewable sources to provide 50% of French energy by 2025, and wants to protect the "common goods" (water, air, biodiversity) in the Constitution. Hamon is also very critical of the neoliberal "myth of infinite economic growth", which he blames for "destroying the planet" and argues is a "quasi-religion" among politicians. "There is an urgency to change now our way to produce and consume. [...] We can negotiate with bankers, but we can't negotiate with the planet."
While the Hamon's project is seen as coherent about the future evolution of the society and credible by commentators, it is seen by others as an utopia.