But Mélenchon has overcome controversy before. In 2019, weakened by footage of a furious Mélenchon clashing with police who were raiding his movement’s offices as part of an investigation into his campaign finances, LFI scored barely above 6 percent in the EU election. Three years later he managed to capture most of the French left-wing vote during the presidential election and nearly made the run-off, which allowed him to spearhead a united left alliance in the subsequent legislative elections.
Antoine Léaument, a member of parliament for LFI and a close Mélenchon ally, said he believes attacks against the radical left could work in the movement’s favor.
Over the past week two key party figures were summoned by police investigating “glorifying terrorism” allegations in relation to statements on Israel’s war in Gaza. According to the LFI parliamentary group’s statement, the Oct. 7 Hamas attack came “against the backdrop of the intensification of Israel’s occupation policy;” LFI called for an immediate ceasefire.
Politicians across party lines on the left have expressed concern that these investigations could be an example of lawfare.
“Our voters can use this election as revenge,” he argued. “The more we are unfairly targeted, the more our supporters across the country will want to prove that these attacks are inefficient.”
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