the radicalization strategy of Jean-Luc Mélenchon to embody an “anti-system” vote

The leader of France Insoumise multiplies polemical declarations and completely accepts the isolation to which he is subject on the political scene.

On the front line, Jean-Luc Mélenchon seeks to divide the European campaign as much as possible. Always stronger, always further away, him on one side against all the others, from the right but also from the left, who would gang up against the Rebels. This is the scene he wants to set, oscillating between accents of bully and martyr. Latest provocation to date, Friday April 19, when he accused the president of the University of Lille, who had canceled the pro-Palestinian meeting that he claimed to hold the day before, of having “flattened”to be “layer”as “the cowards of the French police”, who organized the Vel d’Hiv roundup in 1942 or the Nazi war criminal “Adolf Eichmann who said he only obeyed the law of his country”. This new projection caused an outcry, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon found himself a little more isolated. Precisely what he is looking for.

He wishes to embody a vote resolutely “anti-system”. Anti-Macron of course, but also a vote to break with the rest of the left, from environmentalists to Raphaël Glucksmann who has become his favorite target. Since October 7, when he refused to characterize Hamas as “terrorist movement” and the massacres of “pogrom”, Jean-Luc Mélenchon is engaged in a headlong rush which leads him to outbid the situation in Gaza. It became the main campaign subject of the Insoumis. They denounce a “genocide in progress”, accuse Raphaël Glucksmann of being complicit with the Netanyahu government. They seek to mobilize in universities and organize demonstrations like Sunday in Paris. And they found a new figurehead, the Franco-Palestinian activist Rima Hassan, candidate in 7th position on their list, who denounces “the fascist colonial entity” of Israel which she accuses of leading a “apartheid policy” . Rima Hassan will be questioned by the police in a few days – for “apology of terrorism”.

A position currently not paying off in the surveys

This radicalization strategy is currently not effective. In the polls of voting intentions, Manon Aubry’s list only collects 6%, as it did five years ago, very far from that of Raphaël Glucksmann, which is in full swing at around 13%. Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s popularity has collapsed. According to the daily Release, he is clearly ahead in a poll by the rebellious deputy François Ruffin to wear the colors of the left in 2027. Not enough to encourage Jean-Luc Mélenchon to lower his voice. On the contrary. As if, by dint of becoming radicalized, he had ended up convincing himself that it is not necessarily at the ballot box that the future of the country will be decided.