Mélenchon denounces the “machine to deceive” that Hollande represents

If the socialists have “the key” until the next presidential election, as François Hollande believes, the Insoumis do not want to give them free rein. Jean-Luc Mélenchon thus denounced on Sunday the “deception machine” that the former president represents, for him.

The PS, which chose Thursday not to censor the government, unlike the rest of the left, now constitutes “the central pole of the Assembly” and has “the key until 2027”, welcomed the former head of state, a big supporter of the break with LFI, in an interview with “La Tribune Dimanche”.

Wishful thinking, said Jean-Luc Mélenchon on RTL/Public Senate. In his eyes, François Hollande, now a deputy for Corrèze, wishes to run in 2027 and therefore says “what he would like” to happen. The rebellious tribune does not mince his words against his socialist rival, accusing him of being a “deception machine” who led a negotiation with François Bayrou on non-censorship, in parallel with that led by the boss of the PS, Olivier Faure.

The radical left group is demanding the departure of Emmanuel Macron and hopes to increase the censorship of the Prime Ministers he appoints, after that of Michel Barnier in December.

But Olivier Faure decided to enter into negotiations with François Bayrou during which the latter agreed to reopen a discussion on the much-criticized 2023 pension reform and to return to measures such as the delisting of medicines or the elimination of 4,000 teaching positions.

The PS was “bought” and “saved the head of François Bayrou”, denounced, at the other end of the political spectrum, the vice-president of the National Rally Sébastien Chenu, whose party however did not voted for censorship this week. “All of this is part of one thing, the constitution of a central bloc in which the socialists will eventually find their place,” he added on LCI.

Direct consequence within the New Popular Front: the rose party is “no longer a partner”, but a simple “ally of circumstance”, according to Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Clémence Guetté, LFI vice-president of the National Assembly, seemed to give the socialists one last chance by recalling the “deadline” represented by the budget vote in February.

“We will table a motion of censure in 15 days for the budget. We will see what happens (…) If they do not vote for it, we will draw all the necessary consequences,” she warned on France 3.

Among the possible retaliatory measures, the Rebels are considering presenting candidates in the next legislative elections against the outgoing socialist deputies who did not vote for the fall of the government.

“It’s not a threat, it’s a question of loyalty to our voters,” assured Clémence Guetté.

And too bad if this put LFI at risk of being isolated from the rest of the left.

“We are not afraid of solitude, we have already been alone against everyone,” recalled Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

At the PS also, the exit of François Hollande caused some cringe, particularly among supporters of Olivier Faure.

“Non-censorship is not a given and the union of the left remains our compass for 2027,” thundered MP Laurent Baumel, a former “rebellious” from the Hollande era.

“François Hollande does not represent the future of the PS,” added Iñaki Echaniz, one of the eight socialist deputies out of 66 to have voted for censure this week.

“It is not François Hollande who dictates the strategy of the Socialist Party,” said party spokesperson and MEP Chloé Ridel.

For his part, Raphaël Glucksmann, who shares with the former head of state a desire to assert social democracy, called on the “pro-European” left to “assume the balance of power” with Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

“Don’t be afraid, he can’t destroy us,” he said on France Inter.