“People kept saying for days and days that I was divisive. I was accused of everything and anything, anti-Semitism, this, that (…). I will never be the problem, I will always be on the side of the solution,” said Mr. Mélenchon.
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Asked about the possibility of François Ruffin gaining access to Matignon in the event of victory for the New Popular Front, the rebellious leader felt that “it is an answer that belongs entirely to him”.
“I saw him say + I am ready +”, he added, conciliatory despite the very harsh words of François Ruffin after the sidelining of the former traveling companions of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Raquel Garrido, Alexis Corbière and Danielle Simonnet.
“A government is not a group of friends, it is not an arrangement between currents. It’s about being able to withstand the shock of governing. It’s the worst job, Matignon,” Mr. Mélenchon said.
He highlighted the desire of rebellious France to open up to figures from civil society, like the confederal leader of the CGT Céline Verzeletti, candidate in Ms. Simonnet’s constituency.
Asked about the support of the former President of the Republic François Hollande for the New Popular Front, and for his candidacy in Corrèze, Mr. Mélenchon was satisfied.
“Any reinforcement is welcome to beat the National Rally. And the fewer people there are on the outside who are in a critical and obviously always very personalized relationship – I am the general lightning rod for all problems – so much the better,” he said.
“This is the life of democracy. The PS chooses who it wants. For my part, I apply the rule that I ask him to apply,” he continued, while the PS criticized LFI’s investiture choices.
“I throw the grudge into the river and I hope he (François Hollande) does the same. And we are going to have complicated problems to resolve. “It’s better to do it in an atmosphere where everyone contributes their intelligence rather than their resentment,” he said.
A totally different story for party coordinator Manuel Bompard, who judged Mr. Hollande’s candidacy on BFMTV as “incongruous and absolutely incoherent”.
Legislative elections in France: Adrien Quatennens announces he is renouncing his candidacy, “all energy must be used to beat the extreme right”
