The JDD. The boss of LFI is already the subject of abundant literature. Why dedicate a new book to him?
Julien Dray. Because there was this terrible positioning of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and LFI after October 7. I tried to understand how and why they got there. In reality, the French radical left converted to the theses of the British Trotskyists in the 1990s. Namely that in the global fight against the great Satan that is the United States, the Islamist masses are allies.
Is Jean-Luc Mélenchon sincere or opportunistic?
Initially, there is a form of cynicism. Now, I think there is an element of sincerity on his part. The Yellow Vest episode is the real turning point. Failing to capitalize on the movement, he fatalistically acknowledges the departure of the popular white electorate towards the RN. He must find a replacement electorate, the Islamist masses, whom he sees as the new wretched of the Earth.
You attribute responsibility to the rebellious leader for the decline of the French left. Is it not rather the consequence?
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It was first of all the consequence of a left which lost its identity in the exercise of power. Now he has become an obstacle to his success.
“No one dares to confront Jean-Luc Mélenchon”
The other left-wing groups may harbor prejudices against Jean-Luc Mélenchon, but they always end up dealing with his movement…
No one dares to confront him. The excesses and slippages of LFI after October 7 should have logically led them to cut the cord. They didn't do it. Not only because they have not carried out the work of understanding society, of redefining thought software, but in a more cruel way, these lefts are held electorally by Mélenchon. He is the one who distributes the positions. Olivier Faure does not say anything else when he explains that the alliance with the Insoumis made it possible to save positions in the legislative elections.
Mélenchon gave birth to a generation of radicalized elected officials, determined to continue his work. Can the future of the left be written without them?
It's even an obligation. The non-Melenchonist left will only raise its head at the cost of defending republican universalism, of an ideological reconquest of society, particularly of youth.
Who is MélenchonJulien Dray, Plon, 208 pages, 20 euros.
