Jean-Luc Mélenchon maintains ambiguity about his political future
Audio 01:04
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, photographed during a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, in Paris, on December 12.
AP - Francois Mori
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
He had been discreet for weeks, while his movement, La France insoumise, was in turmoil between governance crisis and Adrien Quatennens affair.
But Jean-Luc Mélenchon is back.
In a long interview on France 2, from Guyana, the LFI leader, who came third in the last presidential election, brushed aside the major issues of the moment and maintained the ambiguity about his own political future.
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“
Well, I'm already retired, that's not the point anymore!
»
Jean-Luc Mélenchon retired?
The boss of the Insoumis may affirm his distance from the front of the political scene – “
I am replaceable and I wish so
” – when the question of the 2027 presidential election is posed to him, the vagueness is back.
It is the circumstances that make the candidacies, everyone knows that.
What will happen in 2027?
Circumstances will allow someone to be designated.
Because the disorder that reigns within La France insoumise annoys Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
“
I think,
he said,
that it would be better for them to stay united, that it's not a good idea to denigrate the movement, but the same people can't have everything all the time!
»
And this hour and a half of interview allows him to remember who is the "alpha male" of the rebellious "pack".
This evening @JLMelenchon restores the facts: the logic of the neoliberals is the breakage of public services and social protection.
Alone against all, each for himself.
Let's not let it go #StopRetraiteMacron #Levenement pic.twitter.com/KKA2lyYmir
– Clémence Guette (@Clemence_Guette) January 12, 2023
On pensions: “
There is no problem funding the pension system, that's not true.
“On his political rivals:”
A table or a chair would be elected in front of Mrs. Le Pen.
»
But to also discuss his vision of the future, between ecology, space, social struggles, foreign affairs... The triple presidential candidate still masters the subjects at his fingertips.
Protecting our forests is imperative!
@JLMelenchon rightly: in France as in Guyana, we must stop the clear cuts!
#Levenement pic.twitter.com/tnVJQFdomJ
— Mathilde Panot (@MathildePanot) January 12, 2023
A show of force and a message sent to those who are prancing to succeed him.
Replaceable perhaps, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, but there will be work to overcome him.
On the Quatennens case
Jean-Luc Mélenchon spoke about the return of Adrien Quatennens to the National Assembly.
After more than three months of absence and a four-month suspended prison sentence for domestic violence, the rebellious deputy indeed returned discreetly this week to the Bourbon palace, while remaining suspended from his group until spring.
It is necessary to fight, and it was in my program, the violences.
Second, when someone does not comply with this, he must be punished.
Adrien Quatennens was punished for a long time and a lot.
And not just him, us.
Because we, for five months, we can't do an interview, not have a meeting without being obliged to talk about this subject.
Quatennens case: Jean-Luc Mélenchon comments on the latest developments
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France
Jean-Luc Melenchon
French politics