Jean-Luc Mélenchon's admiration for Éric Drouet, one of the self-declared leaders of the "yellow vests", surprised.
Eric Drouet is one of the controversial figures of "yellow vests". He was arrested Wednesday for undeclared protest, for the second time, but also, according to police sources, for carrying prohibited weapons and participation in a group for violence. Jean-Luc Mélenchon adores him, he is fascinated by the character and the deputy from Marseilles shouts to the political police.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon finds the movement of "yellow vests" great. And even if there are some anti-Semitic excesses or violence against the police, no problem: we do not make a revolution without breaking people, and it supports it very well.
We finally say that he must be angry, because he saw François Ruffin, who thinks since the beginning of the legislature that Mélenchon is "has been", begins to unveil his game. Ruffin, his star of "yellow vests", it's Étienne Chouard, one of the ultra radical ideologues of "yellow vests". So Melenchon would add to not be left behind. In short, a classic history in political parties.
Yet it is another matter ...
With Jean-Luc Mélenchon, here is a former socialist senator, ephemeral Secretary of State for vocational training, admirer of François Mitterrand, breaking with the PS become over the years the hair scratch of the radical left in the Front of left, then the black beast of the reds. In recent years, he began to declaim in front of his mirror his desire to be the leader of the people. We attend his meetings for the thrill of the beautiful language, and the guillotine, terror by the sharp formula too well.
This time, he spotted the Italian scenario: five-star populism. Just like Ruffin. These two elected representatives of France Insoumise are in agreement: they seek to make the junction with the other party of the far right populists through the round dots of "yellow vests".
And it does not matter if the elected officials of the Republic are threatened with death and insult like the walker deputy of the Gironde, Florent Boudié. Mélenchon and Ruffin like this movement because it can bring down the Republic. This is the essence in their eyes: the populist revolution is under way.
And part of the political and media system shivers with pleasure every time Jean-Luc Mélenchon opens his mouth. But beware, the taste of the thrill can be very expensive for democracy. It must be said things as they are: Jean Luc Mélenchon has become a paradoxical institution. The more he shines by his eloquence, the less he illuminates the spirits.