2023-12-05 06:30:09
The founder of La France insoumise (LFI) and former deputy Jean-Luc Mélenchon, in Paris, June 6, 2023. CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
Freed, in some way, from the New Ecological and Social Popular Union (Nupes) with the other left-wing parties, the end of which he declared on Saturday December 2, Jean-Luc Mélenchon inevitably continues his strategy of conflictualization. Sunday December 3, the founder of La France insoumise (LFI) caused a new scandal, by calling Ruth Elkrief of “manipulative”in the wake of a tense interview between the journalist and editorialist of LCI and the number two of LFI, Manuel Bompard. “If we don’t insult Muslims, this fanatic is indignant”continued Mr. Mélenchon, provoking, in a movement that has become usual, the indignation of some and the inflexible defense of others.
On the indignation side, the government spokesperson, Olivier Véran, denounced a “despicable attack”. The Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune, castigated “a disgusting message”which has only one goal, “raise the extreme right”. On the right, the leader of the Les Républicains (LR) party, Eric Ciotti, testified to his ” support “ to Ruth Elkrief, calling Mr. Mélenchon a “vulgar fatwa thrower” and of “Islamist collaborator”. The LR president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Laurent Wauquiez, accused him “to politically embody the new anti-Semitism”, “probably out of pure electoral cynicism”.
On the left, reactions were rarer. Only the leader of environmentalists, Marine Tondelier, asked him “to erase” his tweet. She herself had been targeted – without being named – by the “rebellious” leader on November 30, in a conference in Rochefort (Charente-Maritime). “Go to a popular city, holding the hand of a Green who explained that “Allah Akbar” is stupid, are you going to see who the ball is, him or her? », he pretended to wonder in front of an audience won over to his cause. A direct allusion to the national secretary of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts, who considered after the pro-Palestinian demonstration of October 19 that he was “ stupid and shocking in context” to chant “Allah Akbar” during the gathering. She apologized for it.
“A target behind Ms. Elkrief’s back”
Obeying a well-oiled choreography, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s entire bodyguard then stepped up to defend him. “ The media-political system feels in danger and is defending itself,” wrote on Northern MP Ugo Bernalicis. His colleague from Essonne, Antoine Léaument, pointed out « the media-political caste », comparing it to a “self-centered world, in a closed circle, and whose navel-gazing is matched only by disconnection”. “She’s in politics, so are we. We return blow for blow”, justifies the elected representative of Haute-Garonne Hadrien Clouet. But despite appearances, the latest outing of the founder of LFI was not unanimous in his camp. Some say to themselves “tired” repeated controversies, while they understood that it “would calm down” A little.
You have 50% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
#JeanLuc #Mélenchons #strategy #permanent #conflict #controversy #controversy