failing to face Mélenchon, Bardella could debate with Tondelier

Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Jordan Bardella disagree on everything but, for once, the Insoumis is in line with a proposal from the head of the National Rally. “Mr Bardella is right, there is a need for a debate between the two projects for the French”, estimated the former third man in the presidential election, on X (ex-Twitter) Monday morning. A little earlier, the Lepéniste, promised to Matignon in the event of an absolute majority of the nationalist camp next Sunday, had said “ready” to be debated “with Jean-Luc Mélenchon”. “The French want clarity”he demanded.

The three-time presidential candidate, who is officially no longer in the leadership of LFI, is not expected to follow up, but has asked Jordan Bardella to confront another Insoumise figure. “He must contact Manuel Bompard, his coordinator, Mathilde Panot, president of the group or Clémence Guetté, coordinator of the program”he asked. However, there was no question of proposing a name from another formation of the New Popular Front alliance.

“It’s my turn”

Because, according to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, since the NFP candidate “for the prime minister’s office has not been designated”the representation of the coalition must return to LFI which is “the first movement in number of elected officials in the first round”. This new rule, erected by the Insoumis, does not suit everyone. A little earlier on BFMTV, the ecologist deputy of Paris, Sandrine Rousseau, re-elected in the first round on Sunday evening, had assured that the decision would be taken “collectively” oh be you NFP. “We make consensus work”she had certified.

However, the coalition seems to have agreed on the name of Marine Tondelier, the national secretary of the Ecologists. The person concerned made this known on Monday at noon on X, then via a press release. “We divided up the debates within the New Popular Front. After Manuel Bompard and Olivier Faure (on TF1 and France 2, Editor’s note)it is my turn to represent our coalition in the third debate”she said. Before calling out Jordan Bardella: “Am I to understand that you do not dare to argue with me?”

Rather than responding to the environmentalist, Jordan Bardella preferred to once again challenge Jean-Luc Mélenchon on X: “Am I to understand that you are fleeing the debate? Let’s get out of the ambiguity: you gathered 22% of French people in your name in the presidential election, you explicitly say you want to govern France. It is you who must come and debate.”