Jean-Luc Mélenchon will no longer sit in the National Assembly, or at least not on the benches of deputies. It was announced, but the leader of La France insoumise confirmed it Thursday evening in Marseille where he was at a meeting to launch the legislative campaign for the New Popular, Ecological and Social Union. Mr. Mélenchon entrusted his constituency, the fourth of the Bouches-du-Rhône, to Manuel Bompard, his former campaign manager.
With our correspondent in Marseille, Yoram Melloul
It was a brief but warm passing of the torch. “ So Mr. Mélenchon, why are you not a legislative candidate? Because Bompard is going to be a candidate! In les insoumis, he is one of the most eminent figures of the new generation. I entrust it to you, it must be elected. »
A national status for Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Manuel Bompard does not dwell on his new status as a candidate, because this left says he wants to play collectively, to govern soon: “ We need 289 deputies to be able to apply our program, to ensure that Jean-Luc Mélenchon is the new Prime Minister, and to ensure that we can contribute to this objective of winning a majority in the National Assembly. And so, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, his first role in this campaign is lead at the national level. »
If you remobilize, we can win here, we can win in Marseille and have a majority at national level.
Manuel Bompard, candidate for Marseille in place of Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Among the hundred activists who came to listen to the speech of the outgoing deputy, Kevyn Raphaël Sima understands the decision of the leader of La France insoumise: “ Personally, it hurts a little, because it was an honor to have Mr. Mélenchon here as an MP. He represented us very well in Marseille. It’s a big mouth. But he is still replaced by I feel like saying his godson, Manuel Bompard, so it’s as if he was still there. So not that disappointed. »
And with the good score that Jean-Luc Mélenchon made here in the presidential election, Manuel Bompard hopes to be elected in the first round.
►To listen also: Guest France – Mélenchon casts doubt on his candidacy for the legislative elections: “Formidable political ability”