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What does the rise of Mélenchon mean for French Jews?

The far-left politician has been accused of antisemitism, and now leads the largest party in the French National Assembly

July 8, 2024 10:54
France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon speaking to journalists in Paris last week
France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon speaking to journalists in Paris last week
3 min read

In a result almost no one anticipated, France has rejected the far-right in favour of the far-left alliance the New Popular Front (NPF), put together over the past week to fight Sunday’s second round of assembly elections.

Led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has a long history of accusations of antisemitism and is said to be pro-Putin, the NPF’s surprise victory has understandably concerned French Jews.

Rabbi Moshe Sebbag, from the Grand Synagogue of Paris, went as far as to tell the Times of Israel that “it seems France has no future for Jews,” and advised young Jews to leave for Israel.

Mélenchon, who leads the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), has been accused of underplaying antisemitism, dog whistling, and playing into antisemitic stereotypes, over his long career in politics – all of which he denies.