In Rennes, Jean-Luc Mélenchon advocates the implementation of “economic sanctions” against the Jewish state

From our special correspondent in Rennes,

Jean-Luc Mélenchon delivered a plea for political commitment in Rennes on Thursday evening. “Never despair,” he said several times to the thousand activists present, a good number of whom had to stay outside because the room was so full. By way of hope, the three-time left-wing candidate in the presidential election listed during his speech what he considers to be the political “victories” of his camp. Starting with the positions of France Insoumise (LFI) on the subject of the conflict in the Middle East. A few hours after the Hamas attack on October 7, Jean-Luc Mélenchon created controversy by calling in a tweet to stop “all the violence unleashed against Israel and Gaza”. The rebellious leader was pleased in Rennes to see that "after 32 days, the President of the Republic spoke of a ceasefire", believing that his position, formerly in the minority, which according to him earned him “relentlessness” and death threats, now imposes itself as dominant.

In this regard, Jean-Luc Mélenchon defended for the first time in Rennes the implementation at European level of “economic sanctions” against the Hebrew State, like those taken against Russia after the invasion of Israel. 'Ukraine. “It seems that economic sanctions bring the violent to their senses, is that what was done against Russia? So we must demand economic sanctions against the government of the State of Israel,” concluded the leader of the Rebels to thunderous applause. Before declaring that “these would not be sanctions against the Israelis but against the government which is leading them to this massacre”. Regretting the positions of Emmanuel Macron at the start of the conflict, which appeared to him to be hawkish, his opponent ordered him to stick to “respect for international law”.

Among the “victories” of his camp, Jean-Luc Mélenchon also highlighted the vote on the motion to reject by the National Assembly last Monday. “We voted on a motion presented by one of the Nupes groups, on a text from a left-wing group, and we won. We are not united with anyone!”, he thundered after regretting having “read that we had united our voices with those of LR and the National Rally”. He strongly attacked the “refrain” of the “media sphere” which consists of making Marine Le Pen the big winner. “We have just beaten the RN with a left-wing rejection motion and we say that it was the RN who won? It’s enough to stuff your head, to make you believe that we have lost in advance,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who entered the stage to shouts of “Popular Union” and to the cheers of the crowd. It is true that in Rennes, the rebellious leader is on almost conquered ground since he gathered a little more than 36% of the votes in 2022, largely dominating the vote in the Breton metropolis.

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The subject of the European elections, which take place in a little over six months, was conspicuous by its virtual absence during the two hours of speech. The rebellious leader just declared when concluding: “We are going to fight a battle”, half-heartedly confirming the presence of an LFI list during the election. If he regrets that analysts say of his party and of him that they intend to “step over” this electoral deadline, the fact remains that Jean-Luc Mélenchon spoke much more about the presidential election. The one he lost “by a hair” or “very little” in the first round a year and a half ago, but also, in more veiled terms, the one that is looming. “We will continue this common candidacy strategy with those who agree on the program that we will not change by a single page,” assured the leader of France Insoumise. “Popular union” rather than the union of the left, in short. Like a sense of deja vu.