Last straight line before the legislative elections in France. The campaign is in full swing and the contenders for Matignon continue to fight each other through interposed speeches. In the cacophony, one name keeps coming up, that of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who continues to position himself in the race for the post of Prime Minister. The left sees it as too divisive, Renaissance and the RN take advantage of it and brandish it as a scarecrow.
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Jean-Luc Mélenchon ready to join Matignon? “ Of course », replied the rebellious leader a few days before legislative elections anticipated, in a program broadcast on France 5 this Saturday June 22. This is how the boss of LFI relaunched the debate for the post of Prime Minister, the subject which agitates within the New Popular Front. Several figures from the left alliance have, however, already publicly and firmly expressed their opposition to seeing him arrive at Matignon: Raphaël Glucksmann, Valérie Rabault and Aurélien Rousseau.
“I intend to govern this country and it’s not a mess, it’s not the nonsense of leftists who spend their time arguing with each other: we need people who agree on the line we follow.”@JLMelenchon In #CLHebdo pic.twitter.com/VHfYk7D1VY
— C l’hebdo (@clhebdo5) June 22, 2024
Jean-Luc Mélenchon also assured that an agreement had been found on the left: “ The largest parliamentary group will present the candidate for Prime Minister “, he blurted. While the figure of the former deputy divides, even within his own rebellious camp, he affirmed that he has “ the intention to govern this country “. “ I don’t eliminate myself and I don’t impose myself. I think it’s a formula that is quite respectful of the collective “, he still tempered slightly. All this, returning to the necessary unity on the left which requires that it not be “ not the mess, not the bazaar, not the Permanent General Assembly, the pia-pia of leftists who spend their time arguing among themselves “.
Cascading reactions on the left
Obviously, on the left, the reactions were not long in coming. Fabien Roussel, outgoing deputy from the North and leader of the Communist Party, banged his fist on the table. According to him, ” The idea of appointing Jean-Luc Mélenchon as Prime Minister, which he himself supports, has never been the subject of an agreement between the forces of the popular front. This is false and unbearable “, he insisted.
Backlash also on the side of the former President of the Republic and candidate for the legislative elections in Corrèze, François Hollande. For the former tenant of the Élysée, if the Insoumis wants to be of service to the New Popular Front, it must put itself aside, it must ” shut up “. “ That doesn’t mean I deny the sensitivity it represents », specified Mr. Hollande. Earlier in the weekend, Clémentin Autain, a member of the LFI group at odds with its management, estimated in La Tribune that its leader “ Is not the personality who can achieve consensus “.
On the environmentalists’ side, it was Marine Tondelier who painted on LCI on Sunday the sketch of the ideal candidate on the left for Matignon. By ruling out, without citing it, the Jean-Luc Mélenchon hypothesis. “ It is someone who will have to lead this majority, it is clear that the person chosen must be very unifying within our different political families “, she said.
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The majority and the RN point the finger at Jean-Luc Mélenchon
The rebellious leader remains supported by those close to him. Some did not hesitate to step up to the plate, like Manuel Bompard, coordinator of France insoumise, who castigated on prefer to waste energy contributing to anti-Mélenchon campaigns “.
Those who prefer to waste energy contributing to anti-campaigns#Melenchon rather than winning the #NewPopularFront are not up to the task.
Let’s keep our line of conduct: no unnecessary divisions, solidarity in the face of slander, mobilization…
— Manuel Bompard (@mbompard) June 23, 2024
However, the figure of the former deputy is not only a foil to the left, it is brandished by the presidential majority and the RN like a scarecrow. And this release on France 5 was an opportunity to bring it home.
“ At least, it’s clear. If you vote for the so-called Popular Front, you vote for Jean-Luc Mélenchon Prime Minister. It’s up to you », Underlined Minister Aurore Bergé, reacting to the interview broadcast on Saturday. “ It is therefore he who will be Prime Minister if by misfortune the Nupes were to win the legislative elections. I hope that all French people will hear this and draw the consequences », quipped for his part Marine Le Pen traveling to Billy-Montigny.
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