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'{{short description|French politician (born 1951)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jean-Luc Mélenchon ( fucking assohle ) | honorific-suffix = <!-- [[Member of Parliament (France)|MP]] --> | image = Jean-Luc Mélenchon 2022 (cropped).jpg | caption = Mélenchon in 2022 | office = {{NA MP}}<br />for [[Bouches-du-Rhône]]'s [[Bouches-du-Rhône's 4th constituency|4th]] constituency | term_start = 21 June 2017 | term_end = 21 June 2022 | predecessor = [[Patrick Mennucci]] | successor = [[Manuel Bompard]] | office2 = [[Member of the European Parliament]] | term_start2 = 14 July 2009 | term_end2 = 18 June 2017 | successor2 = | constituency2 = [[South-West France (European Parliament constituency)|South-West France]] | office5 = [[Ministry of National Education (France)|Minister delegate for Vocational Education]] | primeminister5 = [[Lionel Jospin]] | term_start5 = 27 March 2000 | term_end5 = 6 May 2002 | predecessor5 = [[Claude Allègre]] | successor5 = [[Luc Ferry]] | office3 = [[Senate (France)|Member of the Senate]] | term_start3 = 1 October 2004 | term_end3 = 7 January 2010 | constituency3 = [[Essonne]] | term_start4 = 2 October 1986 | term_end4 = 27 April 2000 | constituency4 = [[Essonne]] | birth_name = Jean-Luc Antoine Pierre Mélenchon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|8|19|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Tangier]], [[Tangier International Zone]] | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[La France Insoumise]] (since 2016) | otherparty = {{ubl|[[Internationalist Communist Organisation]] (1972–1976)|[[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] (1976–2008)|[[Left Front (France)|Left Front]] (2008–2016)|[[Left Party (France)|Left Party]] (since 2009)}} | alma_mater = [[University of Franche-Comté]] | website = {{url|melenchon.fr|Official website}}<br />{{url|europe.jean-luc-melenchon.fr|European Party website}} }} '''Jean-Luc Antoine Pierre Mélenchon''' ( fucking assohle )({{IPA-fr|ʒɑ̃ lyk ɑ̃twan pjɛʁ melɑ̃ʃɔ̃|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Fabricio Cardenas (Culex)-Jean-Luc Mélenchon.wav}}; born 19 August 1951) is a French politician who was a member of the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]] for the [[Bouches-du-Rhône's 4th constituency|4th constituency]] of [[Bouches-du-Rhône]] from 2017 to 2022. He led the [[La France Insoumise group|''La France Insoumise'' group]] in the National Assembly from 2017 to 2021. Mélenchon has run three times in elections for [[president of France]]; in 2012 and 2017, and a strong third in the [[2022 French presidential election|2022 election]], where he narrowly missed continuing on to the second round in France's [[two-round voting system]]. After joining the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] in 1976, he was successively elected a [[Municipal council (France)|municipal councillor]] of [[Massy, Essonne|Massy]] (1983) and [[Departmental council (France)|general councillor]] of [[Essonne]] (1985). In 1986, he entered the [[Senate (France)|Senate]], to which he was reelected in 1995 and 2004.<ref>[http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20210701182953/https://books.google.fr/books?hl=fr&id=kG-6m23wBcAC&q=violente%23v=snippet&q=violente&f=false "Mélenchon le plébéien"]. Review of {{cite book|last1 = Alemagna|first1 = Lilian |last2 = Alliès |first2 = Stéphane |title = Mélenchon le plébéien |trans-title = Mélenchon the pebeian |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kG-6m23wBcAC |language = fr | publisher = Robert Laffont/bouquins/segher |date = 2012 |isbn = 9782221128411|access-date = 2019-03-02}}"Cette toute première biographie, sans concession ni caricature, permet enfin de connaître la vie de ce natif de Tanger, révélé à la politique en Mai 68, dans son lycée de Lons-le-Saunier. Rythmé d'anecdotes savoureuses, truffé de révélations pas toujours tendres, le récit nous emmène à Besançon avec 'Mémé', l'étudiant lambertiste de la très secrète 'Organisation communiste internationale' (OCI), puis avec 'Jean-Louis Mula', journaliste socialiste dans le Jura parti ensuite 'faire de la politique' à Massy et devenir un jeune fidèle de Mitterrand, dont Mélenchon se rêve aujourd'hui en héritier."</ref> He also served as Minister for Vocational Education between 2000 and 2002, under Minister of National Education [[Jack Lang (French politician)|Jack Lang]], in the [[Cohabitation (government)|cohabitation]] [[Government of France|government]] of [[Lionel Jospin]]. He was part of the [[Radical left wing|radical-left]] wing of the Socialist Party until the [[Reims Congress]] of November 2008, when he left the party to found the [[Left Party (France)|Left Party]] with [[Marc Dolez]], a member of the National Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.jean-luc-melenchon.fr/2008/11/07/ca-suffit-comme-ca/|title= » Ça suffit comme ça !}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.lepartidegauche.fr/vie-du-parti/50-interventions-lors-du-meeting-de-lancement-du-pg/156-jean-luc-melenchon-senateur-de-lessonne|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721010500/http://www.lepartidegauche.fr/vie-du-parti/50-interventions-lors-du-meeting-de-lancement-du-pg/156-jean-luc-melenchon-senateur-de-lessonne|url-status= dead|title= Speech by Jean-Luc Mélenchon at the formation congress of the Left Party|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> Mélenchon first served as party president before becoming party co-president alongside [[Martine Billard]], a position he held until 2014.<ref name="Sulzer2014">{{citation |mode= cs1 |url= http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/quelle-mouche-a-pique-jean-luc-melenchon_1569845.html |title= Quelle mouche a piqué Jean‑Luc&nbsp;Mélenchon? |work= L'Express |date= 24 August 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151029030457/http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/quelle-mouche-a-pique-jean-luc-melenchon_1569845.html |archive-date= 29 October 2015 |url-status= live |last= Sulzer |first= Alexandre |language= fr |location= Paris |issn= 0245-9949 |quote= ''Décidément, Jean‑Luc&nbsp;Mélenchon aime les subtilités. Celui dont on connaissait le 'vague&nbsp;à&nbsp;l'âme' depuis une interview pour le site Hexagones.fr fin juillet a confirmé vendredi qu'il quittait la co‑présidence du Parti&nbsp;de&nbsp;Gauche&nbsp;(PG) avec Martine&nbsp;Billard.'' }}</ref> As co-president of the Left Party, he joined the [[Electoral alliance|electoral coalition]] of the [[Left Front (France)|Left Front]] before the [[2009 European Parliament election in France|2009 European Parliament election]]; he was elected as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) in the [[South-West France (European Parliament constituency)|South-West France constituency]] and reelected in [[2014 European Parliament election in France|2014]]. He became the Left Front's candidate in the [[2012 French presidential election|2012 presidential election]], in which he came in fourth, receiving 11.1% of the first-round vote. Mélenchon founded the party {{lang-fr |[[La France Insoumise]] | label = none}} (LFI, "France Unbowed") in February 2016. He stood as a candidate in the [[2017 French presidential election|2017 presidential election]] "outside the frame of political parties", again coming in fourth, with 19.6% of the first-round vote. He became a member of the National Assembly for {{lang-fr | La France Insoumise | label = none}} following the [[2017 French legislative election|2017 legislative election]], receiving 59.9% in the second round in [[Bouches-du-Rhône's 4th constituency]], located in [[Marseille]] (France's second-largest city).<ref> [http://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/legislatives-2017/013/01304.html Élections législatives de 2017], interieur.gouv.fr (in French). </ref> Mélenchon stood again under the LFI banner in the [[2022 French presidential election|2022 presidential election]], coming in third with 21.95% of the vote, just over one point short of qualifying for the second round.<ref>[https://www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr/presidentielle-2022/FE.html Election présidentielle 2022], interieur.gouv.fr (in French).</ref> After this, he led the newly-formed [[New Ecological and Social People's Union]] (NUPES) alliance of parties to a second-place performance in the [[2022 French legislative election]]. {{TOC limit}} == Biography == === Early life (1951–1976) === Jean-Luc Mélenchon was born in [[Tangier]] ([[Tangier International Zone]]), Morocco.<ref name="CV">[http://franc-tireur.fr/11345-jean-luc-melenchon.php/ "Le CV de Jean‑Luc&nbsp;Mélenchon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007172948/http://franc-tireur.fr/11345-jean-luc-melenchon.php/ |date=7 October 2016 }}, ''[[Europe 1]]'', 5 March 2012</ref> His father, Georges, was a [[Postes, télégraphes et téléphones (France)|postmaster]] of [[Spanish people|Spanish descent]], and his mother, Jeanine Bayona, was a primary school teacher of Spanish and [[Sicilian people|Sicilian descent]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atlantico.fr/explore/decryptages|title=Décryptages &#124; Atlantico.fr|website=atlantico.fr}}</ref> He grew up in [[Morocco]], until his family moved to France in 1962.<ref name="CV" /> Mélenchon was then educated at the [[Lycée Pierre-Corneille]], a state secondary school in [[Rouen]], Normandy.<ref name="LyCo6">{{cite web |url=http://lgcorneille-lyc.spip.ac-rouen.fr/spip.php?article6 |title=Lycée Pierre Corneille de Rouen: History |publisher=lgcorneille-lyc.spip.ac-rouen.fr |date=19 April 1944 |access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref> With a degree in philosophy from the [[University of Franche-Comté]] in Besançon and having gained the CAPES (a professional teaching qualification), he became a teacher before entering politics.<ref name="CV" /><ref name="LyCo6" /> === Socialist Mitterrandist leader (1976–1986) === Jean-Luc Mélenchon left [[Besançon]] to enter professional life in [[Lons-le-Saunier]] ([[Jura (department)|Jura]]), and joined the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] (PS) in September 1976.<ref>Lilian Alemagna and Stéphane Alliès, ''Mélenchon le plébéien'', Paris, Robert Laffont, 2012 ({{ISBN|978-2-221-12646-2}}), p.55</ref> He soon assumed local and [[Departments of France|departmental]] responsibilities (deputy section secretary of [[Montaigu, Jura|Montaigu]]), and developed a federal newspaper that fought for a union between PS and the [[French Communist Party]] (PCF). It was at this time that the latter broke the agreements of the [[Union of the Left (France)|union of the left]] on a joint program of government. He then came to the attention of Claude Germon, mayor of [[Massy, Essonne|Massy]] ([[Essonne]]) and member of the executive office of the PS responsible for the business section. Without stable work after his application was rejected at the ''Croix du Jura'' newspaper,<ref>Lilian Alemagna and Stéphane Alliès, ''Mélenchon le plébéien'', Paris, Robert Laffont, 2012 ({{ISBN|978-2-221-12646-2}}), p. 63</ref> he was hired by Claude Germon to become his [[private secretary]].<ref>Lilian Alemagna and Stéphane Alliès, ''Mélenchon le plébéien'', Paris, Robert Laffont, 2012 ({{ISBN|978-2-221-12646-2}}), p.64</ref> He became one of the leading [[François Mitterrand|Mitterrandist]] leaders of the Essonne federation, which led him to the position of first secretary of this federation at the [[Valence Congress]] in 1981; he remained in this position until 1986. He positioned himself both against the "Second left" of [[Michel Rocard]] and the "Centre of socialist studies, research, and education" (CERES) of [[Jean-Pierre Chevènement]]. He was elected senator during the senatorials of 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2012/08/12/01002-20120812ARTFIG00159-quand-melenchon-est-devenu-le-benjamin-du-senat.php|title=Quand Mélenchon est devenu le benjamin du Sénat|first=Sophie de|last=Ravinel|date=12 August 2012|work=Le Figaro}}</ref> === Socialist Party (1986–2008) === === Departure from the Socialists and foundation of the Left Party (2008–2012) === At the [[Reims Congress]], in September 2008, the political current "''Trait d'union''", created after the victory of the "No" in the [[2005 French European Constitution referendum|French European Constitution referendum of 2005]], Mélenchon made a new contribution. On the eve of the filing of the motions, an agreement was reached between the seven contributions of the left wing of the PS, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon was one of the signatories of Motion C entitled "A world ahead", led by [[Benoît Hamon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-politique/congres-ps-hamon-emmanuelli-lienemann-et-filoche-presentent-une-motion-19-09-2008-238094.php|title=Congrès PS: Hamon, Emmanuelli, Lienemann et Filoche présentent une motion|date=23 April 2017}}</ref> He described this gathering as a "historic event":<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-politique/melenchon-qualifie-d-evenement-historique-l-unite-de-l-aile-gauche-du-ps-23-09-2008-249271.php|title=Mélenchon qualifie "d'événement historique" l'unité de l'aile gauche du PS|date=23 April 2017}}</ref> For the first time, this motion brought together all the sensibilities of the left wing of the PS, with emblematic personalities like [[Gérard Filoche]], [[Marie-Noëlle Lienemann]], and [[Paul Quilès]]. On 6 November 2008, the Socialist militants voted to decide between 6 motions. The motion supported by [[Ségolène Royal]] led with about 29% of the votes cast, while the one led by Benoît Hamon came in fourth with 18.5%. For Jean-Luc Mélenchon, it is a victory of the outgoing majority, which carries 80% of the votes (with the three firsts motions) and, among them, the motion advocating the alliance in the [[centrism|center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://didier-hacquart.over-blog.com/article-24508375.html|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon et Marc Dolez quittent le PS – Le blog politique de Didier HACQUART, Adjoint PS de Vitrolles (13) entre 2002 et 2008|first=Didier|last=HACQUART}}</ref> Believing themselves too far from this trend to the point that it would not be useful to take part in the congress, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marc Dolez announced on 7 November their decision, "out of fidelity to their commitments", and for their independence of action, to leave the Socialist Party, and to create a new movement "without concession facing the right".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2008/11/07/01011-20081107FILWWW00341-jean-luc-melenchon-quitte-le-ps.php|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon quitte le PS|last=lefigaro.fr|date=7 November 2008}}</ref> They announced "the construction of a new left-wing party", simply called the "[[Left Party (France)|Left Party]]" (on the German model of [[The Left (Germany)|Die Linke]]), and called for "the constitution of a left-wing front for the European elections".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2008/11/07/jean-luc-melenchon-quitte-le-ps_1115955_823448.html|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon quitte le PS|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=7 November 2008|via=Le Monde}}</ref> On 18 November, in a meeting with the French Communist Party, the two parties announced their alliance in the form of a "partnership", within the framework of a "left front for another democratic and social Europe, against the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon and the current European Treaties". The launch meeting of the Left Party was held on 29 November in Saint-Ouen, in the presence of Die Linke's co-chairman, [[Oskar Lafontaine]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberation.fr/france/2008/12/01/jean-luc-melenchon-lance-son-parti-de-gauche_260740/|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon lance son Parti de gauche|website=Libération}}</ref> === First presidential candidacy (2012) === {{Main|2012 French presidential election}} Mélenchon was the candidate representing the [[Left Front (France)|Left Front]] ([[Communist Party of France]], Left Party, [[Unitary Left]]) in the 2012 French presidential election.<ref>[http://www.latribune.fr/actualites/economie/france/20120319trib000689126/les-candidats-a-la-presidentielle-jacques-cheminade-a-ses-500-signatures-pas-corinne-lepage.html Candidates officially endorsed by Conseil constitutionnel for the 2012 presidential elections], ''[[La Tribune]]''. Retrieved 19 March 2012.</ref><ref name="delaBaumeErlanger2012">{{citation|mode=cs1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/world/europe/in-french-elections-sound-and-fury-from-the-lefts-melenchon.html |title=In French Vote, Sound and Fury From the Left |work=New York Times |date=10 April 2012 |page=A6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929030137/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/world/europe/in-french-elections-sound-and-fury-from-the-lefts-melenchon.html |archive-date=29 September 2015 |url-status=live |last1=De la Baume |first1=Maïa |last2=Erlanger |first2=Steven |edition=New York |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> He took fourth place and achieved 11.10% of the vote, trailing behind [[François Hollande]], [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], and [[Marine Le Pen]] (and their respective parties, the Socialist Party, [[Union for a Popular Movement]], and [[National Front (France)|National Front]]). In comparison, the winner, François Hollande, received 28.63% of the vote.<ref name="france24_results">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/election-resultats |title=Elections Législatives – Results |publisher=[[France 24]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506074514/http://www.france24.com/en/election-resultats |archive-date= 6 May 2012 }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2012}} [[File:Melenchon, 6ème République - MG 6513.jpg|thumb|right|Jean-Luc Mélenchon in 2013 in Toulouse.]] === Presidency of François Hollande (2012–2017) === {{Main|2012 French legislative election}} Mélenchon represented the Left Front in the [[Pas-de-Calais' 11th constituency]] against his rival Marine Le Pen, where she had over 31% in the presidential election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politiquemania.com/election-presidentielle-2012-tour1-circonscriptions.html |title=Election présidentielle 2012 – Résultats du 1er tour par circonscription |publisher=Politiquemania |language=fr }}</ref> He received third place with 21.46% of the vote, narrowly edged out for second by Socialist Party member Phillip Kemel. Mélenchon decided not to stand in the second round of the election after this result.<ref>{{citation |mode=cs1 |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/french-far-left-leader-jean-luc-melenchon-admits-defeat-by-far-rights-le-pen/story-e6freuyi-1226390732088 |title=French far‑left leader Jean‑Luc&nbsp;Melenchon admits defeat by far‑right's Le&nbsp;Pen |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025148/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/french-far-left-leader-jean-luc-melenchon-admits-defeat-by-far-rights-le-pen/story-e6freuyi-1226390732088 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=live |location=Sydney |agency=AFP |quote=Mr{{not a typo|&nbsp;}}Melenchon said he would not stand in next Sunday's second round after coming third, instead leaving his Socialist rival to battle Ms{{not a typo|&nbsp;}}Le&nbsp;Pen.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. Mr{{not a typo|&nbsp;}}Melenchon won&nbsp;11&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent of votes in the April‑May&nbsp;presidential vote that was won by Socialist Francois&nbsp;Hollande, while Ms{{not a typo|&nbsp;}}Le&nbsp;Pen won almost&nbsp;18&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent of votes.}}</ref> During the presidency of François Hollande, Mélenchon became one of the most critical voices in the left against his [[centrist]] [[free-market]] policy. He denounced a betrayal to the culture and ideas of the [[French Left]]. === Second presidential candidacy (2017) === {{Main|2017 French presidential election}} On 10 February 2016, Melenchon launched the left-wing political platform [[La France Insoumise]] ("Unbowed France") during an interview on the French television channel [[TF1]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2016/02/10/jean-luc-melenchon-annonce-qu-il-est-candidat-a-l-election-presidentielle_4862996_823448.html|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon annonce sa candidature à l'élection présidentielle|date=10 February 2016|work=Le Monde|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr|issn=1950-6244}}</ref> ''La France Insoumise'' was subsequently endorsed by several parties, such as the Left Party and French Communist Party, in addition to members of the [[Europe Ecology – The Greens|Europe Écologie Les Verts]] such as [[Sergio Coronado]], an assembly member for the [[Second constituency for French residents overseas|2nd Overseas Constituency]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/les-invites-de-mediapart/blog/021216/le-choix-de-l-insoumission|title=Le choix de l'insoumission|work=Club de Mediapart|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> and the mayor of Grenoble, [[Éric Piolle]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/article/2017/04/14/eric-piolle-je-voterai-melenchon-pour-encourager-le-rassemblement-de-la-gauche_5111523_4854003.html|title=Eric Piolle : " Je voterai Mélenchon pour encourager le rassemblement de la gauche "|last=Beuve-Méry|first=Alain|date=14 April 2017|work=Le Monde|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr|issn=1950-6244}}</ref> On 12 January 2017, Mélenchon secured the 500 elected sponsors required to be validated by the [[Constitutional Council (France)|Constitutional Council]]. After Benoît Hamon won the nomination for the Parti Socialiste on a left-wing platform, beating former Prime Minister, [[Manuel Valls]], 58–41,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lesprimairescitoyennes.fr/|title=Résultats du second tour - Les Primaires citoyennes de la Gauche - 22 et 29 janvier 2017|website=Les Primaires citoyennes de la Gauche - 22 et 29 janvier 2017|language=fr-FR|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref> Hamon announced on TF1 on 27 February that he and Melenchon had been in talks to form an alliance, but their stances on the European Union separated them, as Melenchon's platform was to renegotiate EU treaties or hold a referendum. France 24 reported following this that, "Adding their scores would place a candidate in first or second place"<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20170227-france-prensidential-election-left-wing-candidates-hamon-melenchon-no-alliance|title=French left-wing candidates fail to forge alliance in presidential race - France 24|date=27 February 2017|publisher=France 24|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Jean-Luc Mélenchon held at a consistent 12% for most of the campaign, until a late upwards surge which put him just behind third place [[François Fillon|Francois Fillon]] at 18%. This late surge is mainly due to Mélenchon's performance within the second presidential debate hosted by [[BFM TV]] and [[CNews]], where, according to an Elabe poll, he was found the most convincing candidate by 25%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://elabe.fr/a-ete-plus-convaincant/|title=Qui a été le plus convaincant ?|date=5 April 2017|work=ELABE|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> However, he did not qualify for the second round of voting, winning 19% of the vote in the first round, placing fourth. After the first round, Mélenchon refused to endorse Macron and told his voters that "no vote should go to the National Front", as he had done in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://lelab.europe1.fr/video-en-2002-melenchon-navait-pas-hesite-a-appeler-a-voter-pour-chirac-contre-le-pen-3309899|title=VIDÉO - En 2002, Mélenchon n'avait pas hésité à appeler à voter pour Chirac contre Le Pen - Le Lab Europe 1|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://lelab.europe1.fr/presidentielle-jean-luc-melenchon-ne-fait-pas-de-difference-entre-emmanuel-macron-et-marine-le-pen-3309248|title=Présidentielle : Jean-Luc Mélenchon ne fait pas de différence entre Emmanuel Macron et Marine Le Pen - Le Lab Europe 1|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> Following constant criticism for this choice, Mélenchon invited members of La France Insoumise to vote on who he will endorse with the choices being "Vote for Emmanuel Macron", "Blank Vote", or "Abstain", with the result being announced on 2 May. 36.12% submitted a blank vote, 34.83% chose to endorse Macron, and 29.05% abstained.<ref>{{Citation|title=Présidentielle 2017 : Jean-Luc Mélenchon ne donne pas de consigne de vote pour le second tour|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/video/2017/04/23/presidentielle-2017-jean-luc-melenchon-ne-donne-pas-de-consigne-de-vote-pour-le-second-tour_5116065_4854003.html|publisher=Le Monde|language=fr-FR|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref> His campaign positions included the intent to establish a Sixth Republic and preserve the environment. According to the NGOs for the development aid [[Action Against Hunger]], Action santé mondiale, [[CARE (relief agency)|CARE]] France, and [[ONE Campaign]], Jean-Luc Mélenchon was the candidate in the presidential election who is the most engaged regarding international solidarity. Together with other French intellectuals, he vigorously denounces free trade between France and the United States as an example of global exploitation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2017/02/01/les-candidats-a-la-presidentielle-evalues-par-les-ong-d-aide-au-developpement_5072744_3234.html|title=Les candidats à la présidentielle évalués par les ONG d'aide au développement|first=Marie de|last=Vergès|newspaper=Le Monde.fr|date=1 February 2017|via=Le Monde}}</ref> === Member of the National Assembly (2017–2022) === [[File:Eric Coquerel et Jean-Luc Melenchon 3.jpg|thumb|Jean-Luc Mélenchon with fellow parliamentarian [[Éric Coquerel]] in 2017]] In June 2017, Mélenchon became a member of the National Assembly for La France Insoumise following his win in the [[2017 French legislative election|legislative election]] in the [[Bouches-du-Rhône's 4th constituency|4th constituency]] of [[Bouches-du-Rhône]], which covers parts of the centre of [[Marseille]]. He won 59.9% of the vote in the second round against [[La République En Marche!|En Marche!]] candidate Corrine Versini. He defeated sitting member [[Patrick Mennucci]] in the first round, a notable member of the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] in Marseille. His election to the National Assembly drew national media attention.<ref>Raphaëlle Besse Desmoulières (20 June 2017). [http://www.lemonde.fr/elections-legislatives-2017/article/2017/06/20/l-insoumis-melenchon-fait-une-rentree-remarquee-a-l-assemblee-nationale_5148226_5076653.html "L’« insoumis » Mélenchon fait une rentrée remarquée à l’Assemblée nationale"], ''[[Le Monde]]'' (In French).</ref> During the examination of the 2017 Labour Law bill, he was remarked in the National Assembly for his multiple interventions, defending the Labour Code ''status quo'' along with fellow La France Insoumise members, arguing that flexibilisation would be harmful to workers.<ref>Jannick Alimi (18 July 2017). [http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/ordonnances-insoumis-et-socialistes-vont-ils-saisir-le-conseil-constitutionnel-ensemble-18-07-2017-7142187.php "Code du travail : Insoumis et socialistes unis pour saisir le Conseil constitutionnel ?"], ''[[Le Parisien]]'' (in French).</ref> He drew attention from the media once more when he came in Parliament with a five euros food shopping bag to denounce a student benefits cut planned by the government.<ref>[http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/APL-Melenchon-vide-son-sac-de-courses-a-5-euros-a-l-Assemblee-1317983 "APL : Mélenchon vide son sac de courses à 5 euros à l'Assemblée"], ''[[Paris Match]]'' (in French). 26 July 2017.</ref> In December 2019, Mélenchon received a suspended prison sentence of three months for rebellion and provocation following an altercation with police officers who had come to serve a warrant at the La France Insoumise headquarters in Paris.<ref>Timothée Boutry (9 December 2019). [https://www.leparisien.fr/politique/jean-luc-melenchon-condamne-a-trois-mois-de-prison-avec-sursis-pour-rebellion-et-provocation-09-12-2019-8212674.php "Jean-Luc Mélenchon condamné à trois mois de prison avec sursis pour rébellion et provocation"], ''[[Le Parisien]]'' (in French).</ref> === 2022 elections === [[File:2022_French_Presidential_Election_First_Round_Map.svg|thumb|Map of the first round of the [[2022 French presidential election]]. Mélenchon was the most voted candidate in the red departments and territories]] Mélenchon was a candidate for [[President of France|President]] in the [[2022 French presidential election]]. He was one of three candidates placed without their consent on the ballot for the [[2022 French People's Primary]], a non-official vote for a common left-wing candidate; he came third out of seven, behind [[Christiane Taubira]] and [[Yannick Jadot]].<ref>{{cite news |title='People's primary' backs Christiane Taubira as unity candidate of French left |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/30/peoples-primary-backs-as-taubira-as-unity-candidate-of-french-left |access-date=10 April 2022 |work=The Guardian |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=30 January 2022}}</ref> Taubira withdrew in March, and endorsed Mélenchon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christiane Taubira annonce qu'elle votera pour Jean-Luc Mélenchon " dès le premier tour " afin de " barrer la route " à l'extrême droite |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2022/article/2022/04/08/christiane-taubira-annonce-qu-elle-votera-jean-luc-melenchon-des-le-premier-tour-pour-barrer-la-route-a-l-extreme-droite_6121189_6059010.html |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=Le Monde |date=8 April 2022 |language=French}}</ref> Mélenchon's polling numbers surged in the final weeks of campaigning, putting him within chance of making the second round.<ref>{{cite news |title=Late surge gives leftist firebrand shot at French vote run-off |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220323-late-surge-gives-leftist-firebrand-shot-at-french-vote-run-off |access-date=11 April 2022 |publisher=France 24 |date=23 March 2022}}</ref> In the first round of voting in France's [[two round voting system]], he came in [[2022 French presidential election#Results|third place]] with 22% of the vote, behind president [[Emmanuel Macron]] in first place with 28%, and narrowly behind [[Marine Le Pen]]'s 23% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr/presidentielle-2022/FE.html |title=Election présidentielle 2022 |website=Ministere de l'Intérieur |access-date=11 April 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410234004/https://www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr/presidentielle-2022/FE.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Only the top two finishers continue on to the second round, so Mélenchon was eliminated after the results of the first round were certified. Mélenchon advised his voters not to vote for Le Pen in the second round, but did not endorse Macron. His 7.7 million first-round voters became a key demographic for the second round. He was the most popular candidate for voters aged 24–35.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Willsher |first1=Kim |title=Macron and Le Pen restart campaigns with Mélenchon a potential 'kingmaker' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/11/french-presidential-election-macron-le-pen-melenchon |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=11 April 2022}}</ref> He was the most voted candidate in the overseas departments of [[Martinique]], [[Guadeloupe]], [[French Guiana]], [[Réunion]], [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] and [[Saint Martin (island)|Saint Martin]], obtaining majorities in several of these jurisdictions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Présidentielle. Dans les Antilles, Jean-Luc Mélenchon obtient plus de 50 % |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/elections/presidentielle/presidentielle-dans-les-antilles-jean-luc-melenchon-obtient-plus-de-50-d232d460-b919-11ec-bd14-a849d20f46a4 |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=Ouest-France |date=11 April 2022}}</ref> He was also the most voted candidate in [[Île-de-France]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Faure |first1=Mélanie |title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon s'impose en Île-de-France, Emmanuel Macron en tête à Paris |url=https://www.europe1.fr/politique/jean-luc-melenchon-simpose-en-ile-de-france-emmanuel-macron-en-tete-a-paris-4104956 |access-date=11 April 2022 |publisher=Europe 1 |date=11 April 2022 |language=French}}</ref> Mélenchon did not run for [[2022 French legislative election|re-election]] in [[Bouches-du-Rhône's 4th constituency]], instead giving his candidacy to [[Manuel Bompard]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=AFP |first=Capital avec |date=2022-05-12 |title=Législatives 2022 : Jean-Luc Mélenchon ne se représentera pas et laisse sa place à Manuel Bompard |url=https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/legislatives-2022-jean-luc-melenchon-ne-se-representera-pas-et-laisse-sa-place-a-manuel-bompard-1436329 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Capital.fr |language=fr}}</ref> Mélenchon has led the [[New Ecologic and Social People's Union]] (NUPES) coalition since May.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=Can the 'Nupes' revive the French left's fortunes? |url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/05/30/can-the-nupes-revive-the-french-lefts-fortunes/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=EUROPP}}</ref> In the 2022 parliamentary election, NUPES won 131 seats.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-13 |title=Emmanuel Macron's coalition level with new leftwing group in French elections |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/12/emmanuel-macrons-coalition-level-with-new-leftwing-group-in-french-elections |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-17 |title=French legislative elections: The second round, by the numbers |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220617-french-legislative-elections-the-second-round-by-the-numbers |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> == Political positions == Mélenchon is a [[socialist]] republican and [[historical materialist]], inspired primarily by [[Jean Jaurès]] (the founder of French republican socialism). He is a proponent of increased [[labour rights]] and the expansion of French [[Social protection in France|welfare programmes]].<ref name=Revolt1>{{cite book|last1=Pr'ncipe|first1=Catarina|last2=Sunkara|first2=Bhaskar|title=Europe in Revolt: Mapping the New European Left|date=July 2016|pages=91–92|publisher=Haymarket Books|location=Chicago|isbn=978-1-60846-593-4}}</ref> Mélenchon has also called for the mass [[redistribution of wealth]] to rectify existing [[socioeconomic inequality|socioeconomic inequalities]].<ref name=Revolt1 /> Domestic policies proposed by Mélenchon include a 100% income tax on earnings over €360,000 a year, full state reimbursement for health care costs, a reduction in presidential powers in favour of the legislature, and the easing of immigration laws.<ref name=Fenby>{{cite book|last=Fenby|first=Jonathan|title=France: A Modern History from the Revolution to the War with Terror|date=November 2016|pages=448–449|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-250-09683-8}}</ref> Mélenchon supports [[same-sex marriage]] and women's right to abortion. He also supports the [[legalisation of cannabis]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/french-presidential-election-how-the-candidates-compare French presidential election: how the candidates compare] The Guardian. Author – Angelique Chrisafis. Published 4 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.</ref> Mélenchon believes in the "créolisation" of French culture and society, a term coined by poet [[Martinique|Martinican]] [[Édouard Glissant]], who defines it as "a blend of cultures that creates something new", that "belongs to none of the cultures that comprise it".<ref name=Creolisation>{{Cite web |last1=McNicoll |first1=Tracy |last2=Mazoue |first2=Aude |date=2 March 2022 |title='Créolisation': Candidates clash on immigration, assimilation and identity |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220215-cr%C3%A9olisation-as-right-wingers-tout-assimilation-m%C3%A9lenchon-levies-creole-counterpunch |website=[[France 24]]}}</ref> During a campaign rally in December 2021, Mélenchon told his supporters: "Whatever one's gender, colour or religion, we are called upon to love one another, and so we pool together our tastes and our cultures. That's créolisation. Créolisation is the future of humanity."<ref name=Creolisation/> [[File:Besancenot, Bové, Mélenchon - gare Saint-Lazare, mai 2005.jpeg|thumb|right|Jean-Luc Mélenchon (right) with [[Olivier Besancenot]] (left) and [[José Bové]] (centre) at a meeting to rally support for the "No" vote in the [[2005 French European Constitution referendum|European Constitution referendum of 2005]].]] Mélenchon is an outspoken critic of the [[European Union]] (EU), which he views as having been corrupted through [[neoliberalism]].<ref name="Bank1">{{cite document|title=Euroscepticism gaining currency? Implications of the EU elections for economic policy|last1=Heinen|first1=Nicolaus|last2=Hartleb|first2=Florian|url=https://www.dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR_INTERNET_EN-PROD/PROD0000000000332443/Euroscepticism+gaining+currency%3F+Implications+of+the+EU+elections+for+economic+policy.pdf|location=Frankfurt, Germany|publisher=Deutsche Bank AG|year=2014|access-date=4 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701101525/http://dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR_INTERNET_EN-PROD/PROD0000000000332443/Euroscepticism%2Bgaining%2Bcurrency%3F%2BImplications%2Bof%2Bthe%2BEU%2Belections%2Bfor%2Beconomic%2Bpolicy.pdf|archive-date= 1 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> During his 2012 campaign, Mélenchon positioned himself against the trend towards economic [[globalisation]], which he denounced as disproportionately profiting the financial industry and "high income earners" at the expense of the poor.<ref name="Bank1" /> He insisted international organisations such as the EU threatened to "strangle the voice of the people".<ref name="French241">{{cite news|title=French left rally behind anti-NATO Mélenchon |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20120406-french-far-left-rally-behind-anti-nato-melenchon-toulouse-hollande-sarkozy-election |work=France Médias Monde (France 24) |location=Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris |date=6 April 2014 |access-date=13 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926203654/http://www.france24.com/en/20120406-french-far-left-rally-behind-anti-nato-melenchon-toulouse-hollande-sarkozy-election |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He supports a renegotiation of European treaties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Focraud|first1=Arnaud|title=Le Pen, Mélenchon, Dupont-Aignan… A chaque eurosceptique son 'Frexit'|trans-title=Le Pen, Mélenchon, Dupont-Aignan... To each eurosceptic their own 'Frexit'|url=http://www.lejdd.fr/Politique/Le-Pen-Melenchon-Dupont-Aignan-A-chaque-eurosceptique-son-Frexit-792219|access-date=30 June 2016|work=[[Le Journal du Dimanche]]|date=21 June 2016|language=fr}}</ref> Mélenchon opposes the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), which he perceives as an affront to France's national sovereignty.<ref name="French241" /> He has repeatedly called for France to withdraw from NATO.<ref name="French241" /> Mélenchon has been labelled a "populist" by numerous diverse people, with the PS senator [[Luc Carvounas]] saying he goes to "the summits of demagoguery and populism", and the magazine ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', stating that Mélenchon's rhetoric is "shocking" and implying his entire political life is based around pleasing the people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/70687/melenchon-populisme-vintage|title=Le populisme "vintage" de Jean-Luc Mélenchon, trop élaboré pour être efficace|work=Slate.fr|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> He has been compared to Marine Le Pen in terms of debating style;<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/le-pen-melenchon-la-mode-est-au-langage-populiste_1237437.html|title=Le Pen-Mélenchon: la mode est au langage populiste|date=5 April 2013|work=LExpress.fr|access-date=29 April 2017|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lesinrocks.com/2011/06/24/actualite/entre-le-fn-et-le-front-de-gauche-la-frontiere-est-elle-poreuse-1113433/|title=Les Inrocks - Entre le FN et le Front de gauche, la frontière est-elle poreuse?|last=Mourgue|first=Marion|date=24 June 2011|website=Les Inrocks|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref> political scientist [[Dominique Reynié]] even went as far as to say he "flirts with xenophobia when it helps him".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/dominique-reynie/jean-luc-melenchon-nest-pas-raciste-mais_b_4367111.html|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon n'est pas raciste mais...|work=Le Huffington Post|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref> Mélenchon has himself his vision of populism, which he sees as positive if it comes with a left ideology. He is inspired by the philosopher [[Chantal Mouffe]], who sought to theorise and rehabilitate the term "left populism". This theory argues that neoliberalism and austerity only made the far-right stronger and that the word "people" has to be reintroduced into the political sphere in a civic sense rather than an ethnic way (creating a "right populism" to fight).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/138602/chantal-mouffe|title=Qui est Chantal Mouffe, la penseuse qui inspire Hamon et Mélenchon?|first=Gaël|last=Brustier|date=27 March 2017|website=Slate.fr}}</ref> Mélenchon has voiced his support for [[Rattachism]].<ref name=lefigaro>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/2014/08/04/31002-20140804ARTFIG00073-belgique-chronique-d-une-implosion-annoncee.php|title=Belgique : chronique d'une implosion annoncée|website=LEFIGARO|date=4 August 2014}}</ref> Observers have assessed his political positions as [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=After keeping back the far-right, is France set for a left-wing prime minister? |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20220318.power-play-france-will-left-wing-jean-luc-melenchon-become-prime-minister/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='We expect a difficult first round' - French go to polls to give Macron working majority or not |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/world/news/we-expect-a-difficult-first-round-french-go-to-polls-to-give-macron-working-majority-or-not-20220612 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schradie |first=Jen |title=Behind French election tweets, the far right is hidden in plain sight |url=http://theconversation.com/behind-french-election-tweets-the-far-right-is-hidden-in-plain-sight-180819 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref> and [[Far-left politics|far-left]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-15 |title=French elections: Who is Mélenchon and what does his Nupes alliance want? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61737537 |access-date=2022-06-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-19 |title=The radical outsider for the French presidency who wants to leave Nato and bring in a 32-hour working week |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-far-left-jean-luc-melenchon-france-insoumise-presidential-candidate-a7638386.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} Political Gridlock In France Is Risk for Europe |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/political-gridlock-in-france-isrisk-for-europe/2022/06/20/1d58bb6e-f068-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> According to sociologist Paolo Gerbaudo, Mélenchon had softened his "revolutionary and radical image" and de facto turned towards reformism. During the 2022 presidential campaign, Mélenchon had shifted towards a more pragmatic approach, and campaigning in favor of bread-and-butter issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerbaudo |first=Paolo |date=2022-06-15 |title=Mélenchon's lesson to the left: less socialism, more social democracy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/15/melenchon-france-new-left-bernie-sanders |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> === Sixth Republic and French Constitution === Mélenchon advocates for the holding of a [[Constitutional convention (political meeting)|constitutional convention]] to create a Sixth Republic. In the 2017 party manifesto titled ''L'Avenir En Commun'', it states in the first chapter: "The new constitution that France needs must be radically different".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://laec.fr/|title=LAEC.fr – Le programme de Jean-Luc Mélenchon en ligne – L'Avenir En Commun|website=LAEC.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> On 14 September 2014, Mélenchon wrote in ''[[Le Monde]]'' that "France must protect itself from the powers of finance. They devour the real economy. ... To this end, the definition of the constitutional rights of private ownership of capital should change. ... Again, it is inclusion in the Constitution that will fix this and make it a common rule."<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/victorayoli/blog/091014/la-6eme-republique-selon-melenchon|title=La 6ème république selon Mélenchon.|work=Club de Mediapart|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> Mélenchon is endorsed by the Movement for the 6th Republic, and has spoken positively of them before. A spokesman for ''La France Insoumise'' affirmed that Mélenchon was very welcoming of a Sixth Republic run by the people that welcomes democracy, ecology, and challenges social issues.<ref name=":1" /> The constitutional convention members must not have ever been elected representatives, and they would not be able to present themselves thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.m6r.fr/2017/04/candidats-a-presidentielle-repondent-mouvement-6e-republique/|title=Les candidats à la présidentielle répondent au Mouvement 6e République ! - Mouvement pour la 6e République|date=16 April 2017|work=Mouvement pour la 6e République|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> ===Agriculture and animal treatment=== The association [[L214]], which is a non-profit for animal protection, stated that he was the only candidate "for animals" during its evaluation of the candidates' programmes, giving him a score of 15.7/20, placing him at the head of 11 candidates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politique-animaux.fr/presidentielle-2017|title=Présidentielle 2017 : que feront-ils pour les animaux&nbsp;?|website=www.politique-animaux.fr|language=fr|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> ===European Parliament=== Mélenchon's attendance before the 2012 presidential election was at 63%,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2014/04/16/les-astuces-de-m-melenchon-pour-paraitre-assidu-au-parlement-europeen_4402075_4355770.html|title=Les astuces de Mélenchon pour paraître assidu au Parlement européen|last=Léchenet|first=Samuel Laurent et Alexandre|date=16 April 2014|work=Le Monde.fr|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr|issn=1950-6244}}</ref> and after this, his average is often compiled with pre-2012, so it is compiled at 71.40%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.votewatch.eu/en/jean-luc-melenchon.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429004258/http://www.votewatch.eu/en/jean-luc-melenchon.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=29 April 2014|title=VoteWatch Europe: European Parliament, Council of the EU|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> Mélenchon justified his relatively low attendance with how active he is within France itself, and has posted a list of other reasons on his blog.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://europe.jean-luc-melenchon.fr/|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon, pour refonder l'Europe|website=europe.jean-luc-melenchon.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://europe.jean-luc-melenchon.fr/ma-facon-detre-depute/absences-dois-je-mexcuser/|title=Un seul être vous manque et tout est dépeuplé|website=europe.jean-luc-melenchon.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> He increased his attendance after that, with the website ''votewatch.eu'' reporting it in 2017 at 85.1%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.votewatch.eu/en/term8-jean-luc-melenchon-2.html|title=Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON - VoteWatch Europe|website=www.votewatch.eu|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> ===Foreign policy=== ==== Germany ==== Mélenchon is critical of German policies. After writing a pamphlet against German policies in May 2015, Mélenchon declared: "But I'm not being [[Anti-German sentiment|anti-German]]. My aim is to rid my readers of any fascination with the so-called '[[German model]]'. What a 'model', indeed! It is a mockery, a fake paradise, whose population suffers from increasing impoverishment and social violence. The fantasy of the 'German model' is the opium of the rich!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melenchon.fr/le-hareng-de-bismarck-les-bonus-du-livre/|title=Le Hareng de Bismarck - Les bonus du livre}}</ref> After the German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], in December 2014, described reform efforts so far in France and Italy as "insufficient", Mélenchon replied through Twitter in German and French: "Maul zu, Frau #Merkel ! Frankreich ist frei. Occupez-vous de vos pauvres et de vos équipements en ruines !" ("Shut your mouth, Mrs. Merkel! France is free. Take care of your poor and your ruined equipment.")<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/europa/frankreich-unlustige-deutsche-12216734.html|title=Frankreich: Unlustige Deutsche|first=Michaela|last=Wiegel|date=10 June 2013|newspaper=FAZ.NET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/JLMelenchon/status/541613491267059712|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en}}</ref> In reaction to the [[2015 Greek bailout referendum|referendum on the Greek sovereign debt crisis]] in early July 2015, he said that the "right-wing German government" was primarily responsible for the aggravation of the crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/schuldenkrise-griechenland-kann-keine-gegenleistung-mehr.694.de.html?dram:article_id=324801|title=Schuldenkrise - "Griechenland kann keine Gegenleistung mehr erbringen"|website=Deutschlandfunk}}</ref> ====Ukraine==== Mélenchon supported the [[2014 Russian annexation of Crimea]], stating that "...Crimean ports [were] vital for Russia's security", and that Russia was taking "...protective measures against an adventurous putschist power", also alleging that Ukraine was influenced by [[neo-Nazis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/melenchon-denonce-un-nouveau-pouvoir-putschiste-aventurier-a-kiev-01-03-2014-1796804_20.php|title=Mélenchon dénonce un nouveau "pouvoir putschiste aventurier" à Kiev|date=1 March 2014|website=lepoint.fr|publisher=[[Le Point]]|access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref> He further opposed imposing sanctions on Russia, and as a member of the European Parliament, voted against all forms of cooperation with Ukraine, including on science.<ref name="Paris">{{cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/le-monde-in-english/article/2022/03/08/melenchon-surges-in-the-polls-despite-fiery-remarks-on-ukraine-in-the-past_6116613_5026681.html|title=Mélenchon surges in the polls despite fiery remarks on Ukraine in the past|last=Paris|first=Gilles|date=8 March 2022|website=lemonde.fr|publisher=[[Le Monde]]|access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref> In 2015, Melenchon referred to Ukraine as a country "...struggling to be one".<ref name="Paris"/> During the [[2021-2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis]], he said that Russia "...must not cross Ukraine's borders", while stating that the United States should not "...annex Ukraine into NATO".<ref name="Dodman">{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220304-ukraine-war-puts-france-s-nato-sceptic-presidential-candidates-in-a-tight-spot|title=Ukraine war puts France's NATO-sceptic presidential candidates in a tight spot|last=Dodman|first=Benjamin|date=4 March 2022|website=france24.com|publisher=[[France 24]]|access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref> Melenchon criticized the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], although he blamed the cause of the conflict on what he termed as NATO "pushing ever closer to [Russia's] borders", and opposed delivering arms to Ukraine.<ref name="Paris"/><ref name="Dodman"/> ====Russia==== Some magazine editors claimed Mélenchon "supported Russia" and was sympathetic towards [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref name="Sénécat" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.liberation.fr/planete/2016/02/22/melenchon-prouve-son-amour-pour-vladimir-poutine_1435136|title=Mélenchon prouve son amour pour Vladimir Poutine|work=Libération.fr|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr}}</ref> Notably, the journalist [[Nicolas Hénin]] said that Mélenchon is "on the left of the political spectrum, but is an advocate for the Kremlin leader", with Hénin quoting how Mélenchon is the "political victim number one" after the murder of the Russian opposition leader [[Boris Nemtsov]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=La France russe : enquête sur les réseaux de Poutine|last=Hénin|first=Nicolas|publisher=Fayard|year=2016|location=France|pages=324}}</ref> [[Cécile Vaissié]], author of ''The Kremlin Networks'', considers Jean-Luc Mélenchon as "one of those that approve of Putin",<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rfi.fr/hebdo/20160422-france-russie-reseaux-vaissie-medias-politique-etc-comment-le-kremlin-tisse-toile-fra|title=Comment le Kremlin tisse sa toile en France|date=22 April 2016|work=RFI|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> and [[Yannick Jadot]] of [[The Greens (France)|EELV]] said that the "pro-Russia" stance is "contrary to any environment thinking".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/lcp/politique/debat-primaire-eelv-yannick-jadot-tacle-jean-luc-melenchon-1500705|title=Débat primaire EELV : Yannick Jadot tacle Jean-Luc Mélenchon|date=27 September 2016|work=Public Senat|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr}}</ref> Mélenchon mocked accusations of support for Putin, saying that it is unlikely that an "eco-socialist" would support Putin,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jean-luc-melenchon.fr/2015/03/12/veillee-de-futur/|title=Veillée de futur|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> and when attacked by [[Benoît Hamon]] on the topic of Putin, he stated: "I am not bound in any way to Mr. Putin. I am absolutely fighting his policy, and if I were Russian, I would not vote for his party, but for the [[Left Front (Russia)|Russian Left Front]] whose leader is in prison."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.marianne.net/politique/jean-luc-melenchon-ce-qu-il-vraiment-dit-sur-la-russie-poutine-et-la-syrie|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon : ce qu'il a vraiment dit sur la Russie, Poutine et la Syrie|date=4 April 2017|work=Marianne|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr}}</ref> However, Mélenchon believes Putin was legitimately elected and thus deserves appropriate respect for his position. Mélenchon declared opposition to Putin's domestic policy and notes his friend of the Russian Left Front, [[Sergey Udaltsov]], is imprisoned in Russia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8Xo-Iz6aVc|title=LA RUSSIE EST UN PARTENAIRE, PAS UN ADVERSAIRE - Mélenchon|date=22 February 2018|work=Youtube Mélenchon|access-date=13 December 2018|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ddBjxW9uk0|title=Entretien entre Jean Luc Mélenchon et Sergeï Oudaltsov - YouTube|date=10 May 2018|work=Youtube Mélenchon|access-date=13 December 2018|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lejdd.fr/Politique/Jean-Luc-Melenchon-Je-deviens-central-817324|title=Mélenchon : "Je deviens central"|last=JDD|first=Le|website=www.lejdd.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> In February 2022, Mélenchon condemned Putin's [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine war serves as backdrop to France's presidential elections |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/8/what-impact-has-the-ukraine-war-had-on-the-french-elections |work=Al Jazeera |date=8 April 2022}}</ref> ====Syria==== Mélenchon is in favour of a [[United Nations]]-led intervention in Syria featuring all nations on the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]]. He opposes intervention without international cooperation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.liberation.fr/france/2016/12/15/alep-en-france-les-pro-poutine-a-demi-mot_1535651#link_time=1481836241|title=Alep: en France, les pro-Poutine à demi-mot|work=Libération.fr|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr}}</ref> After the [[Ghouta chemical attack|chemical attack in Ghouta]], he said that he feels like a strike on Syria "would be a mistake", and calls for a "political solution".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/jean-luc-melenchon-pg-frapper-la-syrie-serait-une-erreur-gigantesque-27-08-2013-1718106_20.php|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon (PG) : frapper la Syrie serait "une erreur gigantesque"|last=magazine|first=Le Point|date=27 August 2013|work=Le Point|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> He has compared an intervention in Syria to Iraq,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lesinrocks.com/2015/11/17/actualite/jean-luc-melenchon-il-faut-dabord-lutter-contre-la-panique-11788306/|title=Les Inrocks - Jean-Luc Mélenchon : "Il faut d'abord lutter contre la panique"|last=Doucet|first=David|date=17 November 2015|website=Les Inrocks|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> and has approved of Russia's intervention in Syria, saying that he believes Vladimir Putin will resolve the [[Islamic State|ISIS]] problem in Syria, noting "It was the Russians who cut off the lines of supply that [[Daesh]] used to smuggle oil to Turkey".<ref name="Sénécat">{{Cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2016/12/16/les-ambiguites-de-jean-luc-melenchon-sur-la-russie-et-la-guerre-en-syrie_5050147_4355770.html|title=Les ambiguïtés de Jean-Luc Mélenchon sur la Russie et la guerre en Syrie|last=Sénécat|first=Adrien|date=16 December 2016|work=Le Monde.fr|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr|issn=1950-6244}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/proche-orient/offensive-jihadiste-en-irak/video-melenchon-felicite-poutine-pource-que-fait-la-russie-en-syrie_1324879.html|title=VIDEO. Mélenchon "félicite" Poutine pour ce que fait la Russie en Syrie|date=2016-02-21|work=Franceinfo|access-date=2018-11-22|language=fr-FR}}</ref> He said many times that he believed Putin could not be left to solve the problem in Syria alone, saying: "The UN will solve the problem [...] it's time for an international coalition".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/proche-orient/offensive-jihadiste-en-irak/video-melenchon-felicite-poutine-pource-que-fait-la-russie-en-syrie_1324879.html|title=VIDEO. Mélenchon "félicite" Poutine pour&nbsp;ce que fait la Russie en Syrie|date=21 February 2016|work=Franceinfo|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr-FR}}</ref> In response to the [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]] against the [[Kurds in Syria|Kurdish]]-led [[Syrian Democratic Forces|SDF]], Jean-Luc Melenchon tweeted:<ref>CNN Sports, "[https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/14/football/french-politicians-france-turkey-uefa-football-military-salute-spt-intl/index.html 'Soldiers of an enemy army': French politicians call for football match against Turkey to be canceled], by Matias Grez, October 14, 2019."</ref><ref>New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/14/world/middleeast/turkey-syria.html "The Syrian War: Today’s Top Developments"], Oct. 14, 2019.</ref> {{blockquote|"''If Turkish footballers do the military salute, they must expect to be treated as the soldiers of an enemy army. So we do not play football against them. The basics of sportsmanship are no longer there!''""}} ====Saudi Arabia==== During a [[Europarliament]] session on 8 June 2016 concerning Venezuela, Mélenchon criticized what he called European hypocrisy, comparing European tolerance of Saudi Arabian rule and intolerance of Venezuelan rule.<ref>{{cite news |title=El discurso de Mélenchon sobre Venezuela que triunfa en las redes |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/08/06/el-discurso-de-melenchon-sobre-venezuela-que-triunfa-en-las-rede_a_23067109/ |access-date=17 July 2018 |agency=Huffington Post |date=6 August 2017|quote=El dirigente izquierdista aseguró que esta resolución no servía "para nada" y criticó lo que consideraba doble rasero de Europa respecto a otros países como Arabia Saudí, con los que guarda "un silencio cómplice".}}</ref> ====Venezuela==== In 2018, he described the countries that denounced the [[2018 Venezuelan presidential election|2018 presidential election]] were "puppets of the United States". He said that the date of the election was agreed upon with the approval of former Spanish Prime Minister [[José Zapatero|José Rodríguez Zapatero]] and that some of the opposition had decided to boycott it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mélenchon: Quiens cuestionan elecciones venezolanas son "títeres" de EE. UU. |url=http://www.ntn24.com/america-latina/venezuela/melenchon-quienes-cuestionan-elecciones-venezolanas-son-titeres-de-ee-uu |access-date=17 July 2018 |agency=NTN24 |date=20 May 2018}}</ref> ====Iran==== Following the [[2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike|killing of major general Qasem Soleimani]], Mélenchon tweeted: "We must equally condemn the USA and Iran as warmongers. My condemnation of the USA does not exempt Iran from the fact that it is a theocracy that wants to destroy the State of Israel."<ref>{{cite tweet|user=JLMelenchon|number=1218956295904075776|date=19 January 2020|title=Nous devons condamner également les USA et l'Iran comme des fauteurs de guerre. Ma condamnation des USA n'exempte pas l'Iran du fait qu'il s'agit d'une théocratie et non-qui veut détruire l'Etat d'Israël. La France doit être non-alignée. #EnTouteFranchise|trans-title=We must also condemn the USA and Iran as war-mongers. My condemnation of the USA does not exempt Iran from the fact that it is a theocracy and not that wants to destroy the State of Israel. France must be non-aligned. #EnTouteFranchise}}</ref> On [[La Chaîne Info|French news channel LCI]], he declared: "the current government of Iran claims it wants to destroy the State of Israel. This is an intolerable project which in itself creates incredible tension in the region, and obviously favors extremes on either side."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fr.timesofisrael.com/ce-qua-dit-melenchon-sur-la-destruction-disrael-par-liran/|title=Ce qu'a dit Mélenchon sur la destruction d'Israël par l'Iran|work=The Times of Israel|date=20 January 2020|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> ===Defence=== Mélenchon wants France to withdraw from [[NATO]] (North Atlantic Treaty Organization),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marianne.net/blogsecretdefense/Jean-Luc-Melenchon-souhaite-le-retrait-total-de-la-France-de-l-Otan_a567.html|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon souhaite le retrait total de la France de l'Otan|access-date=2 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130190316/http://www.marianne.net/blogsecretdefense/Jean-Luc-Melenchon-souhaite-le-retrait-total-de-la-France-de-l-Otan_a567.html|archive-date=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://melenchon.fr/2016/01/22/communique-sur-otan/|title=Communiqué sur l'OTAN|date=22 January 2016|website=Jean-Luc Mélenchon|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> and advocates for what he calls a "separate France" which is pacifist.<ref name=":0" /> He opposes the concept of a unified European army.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://melenchon.fr/2016/11/25/le-nouveau-projet-europeen-preparer-la-guerre/|title=Le nouveau projet européen : préparer la guerre !|date=25 November 2016|website=Jean-Luc Mélenchon|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> ===Regionalism=== Mélenchon has no real position on regionalism, but has stated that he supports the teaching of regional languages, especially [[Breton language|Breton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.senat.fr/seances/s200801/s20080129/s20080129013.html|title=Séance du 29 janvier 2008 (compte rendu intégral des débats)|website=www.senat.fr|language=fr|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> He supports state funding for the teaching of the Breton language.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hucault.com/CmC/effort/effort20011215.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511154205/http://www.hucault.com/CmC/effort/effort20011215.htm |url-status=dead|archive-date=11 May 2008|title=Le point de vue de Krusti Effort Flora Tristan|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> He has gone against autonomy for [[Brittany]], even criticising socialists from the region for promoting "autonomy".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.letelegramme.fr/gratuit/generales/regions/finistere/langues-regionales-tension-entre-elus-socialistes-20080520-3085596_1330651.php|title=Langues régionales. Tension entre élus socialistes|work=Le Telegramme|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr}}</ref> In 2018, Mélenchon was asked a question about an anti-corruption investigation by a journalist{{who|date=October 2022}} from [[Toulouse]]. He responded by mocking her accent, accusing her of "talking nonsense" and then asking "has anyone got a question in more or less comprehensible French?". Video of the exchange was circulated widely on social media and sparked a debate about whether discrimination based on regional accents should be made illegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-accents/french-lawmaker-proposes-bill-to-outlaw-mockery-of-accents-idUSKCN1MT2BU|title=French lawmaker proposes bill to outlaw mockery of accents|work=Reuters|date=19 October 2018|access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> Mélenchon apologised for his comment, claiming he thought the journalist was mocking him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/melenchon-presente-ses-excuses-a-la-journaliste-dont-il-a-imite-l-accent-1548222.html|title=Mélenchon présente ses excuses à la journaliste dont il a imité l'accent|agency=Reuters|date=19 October 2018|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> == Controversies == ===Interactions with the media=== Jean-Luc Mélenchon is often highly critical of the media, and has asked his supporters to monitor and film journalists, especially of ''[[Le Monde]]'' and ''[[Libération]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/melenchon-appelle-ses-militants-a-surveiller-les-journalistes-du-monde-et-de-libe_1535827.html|title=Mélenchon appelle ses militants à "surveiller" les journalistes du Monde et de Libé|date=5 May 2014|work=LExpress.fr|access-date=2 May 2017|language=fr}}</ref> Mélenchon has insulted numerous journalists. He labelled Renaud Revel of ''[[L'Express]]'' a "dirty little spy" and called the magazine "fascist".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sudouest.fr/2012/05/30/melenchon-a-un-journaliste-petit-espion-travaillant-pour-un-journal-fasciste-729367-5209.php|title=Mélenchon à un journaliste : "petit espion" travaillant pour un "journal fasciste"|website=SudOuest.fr|date=30 May 2012|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> In 2021 he was found guilty of public defamation after calling a ''Le Monde'' journalist a reformed assassin and a CIA muse on his blog in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/jean-luc-melenchon-condamne-pour-diffamation-envers-un-ex-journaliste-du-monde-20210924_CWV57DESMVC3ZOF3E5JK2UT374/|title=Jean-Luc Mélenchon condamné pour diffamation envers un ex-journaliste du "Monde"|work=Libération|access-date=2022-03-19|date=2021-09-24|language=fr-FR}}</ref> He frequently criticizes Germany and German policy, leading to spats with German newsmagazine [[Der Spiegel]], which has run articles calling him a "demagogue" and "a hater of Germany."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/jean-luc-melenchon-dieser-linksradikale-will-premierminister-von-frankreich-werden-a-0c281f36-5565-483f-8447-2b5802d8591f | title=(S+) Jean-Luc Mélenchon: Dieser Linksradikale will Premierminister von Frankreich werden | newspaper=Der Spiegel | date=13 May 2022 | last1=Sandberg | first1=Britta }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/frankreichs-linken-chef-melenchon-laestert-ueber-deutschland-a-904847.html | title=Frankreichs Linken-Chef Mélenchon lästert über Deutschland | newspaper=Der Spiegel | date=10 June 2013 }}</ref> ===Accusations of anti-Semitism=== In 2013, Mélenchon referred to French Finance Minister [[Pierre Moscovici]] as "one of those 17 Eurogroup bastards [finance ministers]” putting pressure on Cyprus as it urgently sought a bail-out solution to its debt crisis. "Moscovici behaves like someone who has stopped thinking in French, like someone who thinks only in the language of international finance". He was accused of making "unacceptable comments". [[Harlem Désir]] stated that "Mélenchon should immediately withdraw these unacceptable comments that he made using the vocabulary of the 1930s". Mélenchon responded that he "had no idea of Pierre Moscovici’s religion and [had] no intention of making an issue of it in the future".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20130325-melenchon-anti-semitism-france-jews-mascovici-socialist|title=French far-left leader accused of anti-Semitism|date=25 March 2013|website=France 24}}</ref> In August 2014, during a speech in Grenoble, Mélenchon criticised the [[Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France|Representative Council of Jews of France]] (CRIF), a coalition of organisations representing French Jewry, saying "We’ve had enough of CRIF. France is the opposite of aggressive communities that lecture to the rest of country." He also stated "We do not believe that any people is superior to another", which was viewed by his critics as an allusion to the Torah's designation of Jews as the "chosen people".<ref name="Liphshiz">{{cite news|last=Liphshiz|first=Cnaan|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-jews-put-off-by-le-pen-now-worry-about-another-presidential-candidate/|title=French Jews put off by Le Pen now worry about another presidential candidate|work=The Times of Israel|agency=JTA|date=21 April 2017|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> Mélenchon's comments came in the wake of a series of protests in France against Israel's [[2014 Gaza War]]. [[2014 Sarcelles riots|Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in French cities]]. Anti-Semitic attacks had been reported in France within the previous month.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/pro-palestinians-rally-across-france-1.5256027|title=Anti-Israel Protesters Rally Across France, Defying Ban Imposed After Synagogue Clash|work=The Haaretz|date=19 July 2014|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> The [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] wrote that Mélenchon did not refer to the attacks but criticised French Jews for "rally[ing] in front of the embassy of a foreign country or serv[ing] its flag, weapon in hand."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jta.org/2017/04/20/global/french-jews-are-worried-about-le-pen-now-another-presidential-candidate-scares-them-too|title=French Jews are worried about Le Pen. Now another presidential candidate scares them, too|work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]}}</ref> In July 2017, Mélenchon maintained that Republican France bears no guilt in the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]], and criticized [[Emmanuel Macron]] for admitting at a gathering in Paris remembering the ''[[Vel' d'Hiv Roundup]]'' that [[Vichy France]] was the legal French government at the time, thus conceding the French State's responsibility in the deportation of the Jews. Mélenchon's comments were echoing those of [[François Mitterrand]] a former president, who declared in 1994 that the round-up and deportation of Jews to death camps during the war was the work of the country's [[German military administration in occupied France during World War II|Nazi occupiers]] and "Vichy France", an illegitimate entity distinct from France. ''[[Haaretz]]'' noted that Marine Le Pen had made comments similar to Mélenchon's three months earlier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/melenchon-slams-macron-for-accepting-french-complicity-in-holocaust-1.5431187|title=Far-left French Leader Slams Macron for Accepting French Complicity in Holocaust|work=Haaretz|date=17 July 2017|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Following the murder in March 2018 in Paris of [[Mireille Knoll]], an elderly Jewish woman who survived the events at ''Vel d'Hiv'' and the Holocaust, CRIF leadership requested Mélenchon stay away from a march in her memory; Mireille's son, Daniel, said that "everyone without exception" could attend, and that, "CRIF is being political, I’m opening my heart to all those who have a mother".<ref>{{cite news|last=Willsher|first=Kim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/28/mireille-knoll-marches-held-in-france-after-suspected-antisemitic-killing|title=Mireille Knoll: marches held in France after suspected antisemitic killing|work=The Guardian|date=28 March 2018|access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref> As with Marine Le Pen, who made the same choice to be present, despite the appeal, he was booed and abused by a group of extremist protesters.<ref name="Berman">{{cite news|last=Berman|first=Paul|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/274662/american-left-1|title=The Left and the Jews: A Tale of Three Countries|work=Tablet|date=11 November 2018|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> In November 2019, Mélenchon further accused CRIF of practising "blatant, violent, and aggressive sectarianism, namely against me", after it asked him not to attend the memorial ceremony for Knoll more than 18 months earlier. No physical violence occurred at the march; police accompanied Mélenchon and his team away from the proceedings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Far-left French leader says Jews promote 'violent sectarianism' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/far-left-french-leader-says-jews-promote-violent-sectarianism/ |access-date=10 November 2019 |work=[[Times of Israel]] |agency=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=8 November 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, he deplored that UK [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] gave in to the accusations of [[Antisemitism in the UK Labour Party|anti-Semitism in his party]], saying Corbyn "had to endure, unaided, churlish anti-Semitism claims from England's chief rabbi and various influence networks linked to [[Likud]]. Instead of riposting, he spent his time apologising and making pledges ... It showed a weakness that troubled the popular sectors [of the electorate]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://melenchon.fr/2019/12/13/corbyn-la-synthese-mene-au-desastre/|title=Corbyn: la synthèse mène au désastre|language=fr|first=Jean-Luc|last=Mélenchon|date=13 December 2019|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/15/jeremy-corbyn-should-never-have-apologised-anti-semitism-claims/|title=Jeremy Corbyn should never have apologised over anti-Semitism claims, says French far-Left ally|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Henry|last=Samuel|date=15 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Mélenchon later published a post on his personal blog denouncing the use of anti-Semitism as a pretext to launch smear campaigns against political figures. He called the "method ... absurd, offending, but, more importantly, dangerous. For all this is at the expense of the real fight against anti-Semitism. Its main result is to lower the vigilance threshold of sincere anti-racists".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://melenchon.fr/2019/12/27/antisemitisme-un-bon-pretexte-contre-sanders-aussi/|title=Antisemitisme, un bon prétexte contre Sanders aussi|language=fr|first=Jean-Luc|last=Mélenchon|date=27 December 2019|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> [[File:2019-06-22 14-40-42 manif-Belfort (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Mélenchon in 2019]] In 2020, while interviewed about the French police, he said, "I don't know if Jesus was on a cross, but he was apparently put there by his own people". This declaration was condemned by the [[Wiesenthal Center]], who said that it was spreading belief in [[Jewish deicide]]; they noted that this allegation was condemned by the papal encyclical [[Nostra Aetate]], and noted that "its imagery fuelled violence across Europe, culminating in the Nazi Holocaust".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-far-left-leader-accuses-jews-of-responsibility-for-jesuss-death/|title=French far-left leader accuses Jews of responsibility for Jesus's death|work=The Times of Israel|first=Marcy|last=Oster|date=20 July 2020|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref> In October 2021, Mélenchon was again accused of anti-Semitism, after he made a comment singling out the [[Jewish culture|Jewish tradition]] as responsible for the far-right political positions of [[Éric Zemmour]]. His remark was condemned as anti-Semitic by political figures on the political spectrum, such as [[Christophe Castaner]] ([[La République En Marche!|LREM]]), [[Gilbert Collard]] ([[National Rally|RN]]), and [[Pierre Moscovici]] ([[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/presidentielles/propos-sur-zemmour-et-les-juifs-accuse-de-sombrer-dans-l-antisemitisme-melenchon-admet-qu-il-s-est-mal-exprime-20211029|title=Commentary on Zemmour and the Jews: accused of "sinking into anti-Semitism", Mélenchon admits that he "poorly expressed"|date=29 October 2021|language=fr|first=John|last=Timsit|website=Le Figaro|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> ===Accusations of promoting conspiracy theories=== In 2011, [[Rudy Reichstadt]], director of [[Conspiracy Watch]], commented that while it would be "quite unfair" to call Mélenchon a conspiracy theorist, he did sometimes abet anti-semitic [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] by downplaying them or making excuses for those who promulgate them.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-05-27|title=''Complot'', ''théorie du complot''… et si on s'arrêtait deux minutes ?|url=https://www.conspiracywatch.info/complot-theorie-du-complot-et-si-on-s-arretait-deux-minutes_a678.html|access-date=2021-08-19|website=Conspiracy Watch {{!}} L'Observatoire du conspirationnisme|language=fr-FR}}</ref> In June 2021, Mélenchon predicted that, in the last week of the [[2022 French presidential election|2022 presidential campaign]], there would be a "grave incident or murder" that would be used to "point the finger at the Muslims and to invent a civil war". He cited the attack on retiree Paul Voise in 2002 shortly before the 1st round of the presidential election, the Jihadist attack against a Jewish school in Toulouse by [[Mohammed Merah]] a few months before the presidential election of 2012, and the [[April 2017 Champs-Élysées attack|terrorist attack in Paris]] a few days before the first round of the 2017 presidential election. His statements were supported by his own party and condemned by other political parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20210607-vague-d-indignation-apr%C3%A8s-des-propos-de-jean-luc-m%C3%A9lenchon-jug%C3%A9s-complotistes|title=Vague d'indignation après des propos de Jean-Luc Mélenchon jugés complotistes|date=7 June 2021|website=France 24}}</ref> He later clarified that he was referring to "murderers [who] are waiting for the best time to get people talking about them" and the politicians who use these events for electoral purposes. Rudy Reichstadt, director of Conspiracy Watch, described Mélenchon's statement as "ambiguous" and quite close to conspiracy beliefs. He claimed that Mélenchon has been promoting conspiracy theories for several years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/lfi/rudy-reichstadt-melenchon-verse-dans-le-complotisme-depuis-plusieurs-annees_2152399.html|title=Rudy Reichstadt : "Mélenchon verse dans le complotisme depuis plusieurs années"|date=7 June 2021|website=LExpress.fr}}</ref> == Political career == '''Governmental functions'''<ref name="CV" /> Minister of Vocational Education, 2000–2002. '''Electoral mandates''' '''''National Assembly of France''''' [[Member of Parliament (France)|Member]] for [[Bouches-du-Rhône]]'s [[Bouches-du-Rhône's 4th constituency|4th]] constituency, 2017–2022 '''''European Parliament''''' [[Member of the European Parliament|Member]] of [[European Parliament]], 2009–2017. '''''Senate of France''''' Senator of [[Essonne]], 1986–2000 (became minister in 2000), 2004–2010 (resignation, elected in European Parliament in 2009). Elected in 1986, re-elected in 1995, 2004. (At the age of 35, he was the youngest member of the Senate when he was elected to it in 1986.) '''''General Council''''' Vice-president of the General Council of Essonne, 1998–2001. General councillor of Essonne, 1985–1992, 1998–2004. Re-elected in 1998. '''''Municipal Council''''' Deputy-mayor of Massy, Essonne, 1983–1995. Municipal councillor of Massy, Essonne, 1983–2001. Re-elected in 1989, 1995. '''Political function''' Co-president of the Left Party, 2008–2014. == Publications == Mélenchon's published works include: *{{cite book | author-last1= Mélenchon | author-first1= Jean-Luc | author-last2= Amar | author-first2= Cécile|title= De la vertu |publisher= Editions de l'Observatoire |date=22 March 2017| isbn=979-1-03-290059-8|language=fr }} *{{cite book | author-last1= Mélenchon | author-first1= Jean-Luc | title= L'avenir en commun : Le programme de la France insoumise et son candidat | url= https://archive.org/details/lavenirencommunl0000mele | url-access= registration |publisher= [[Éditions du Seuil|Seuil]] |date=1 December 2016| isbn=978-2021317510|language=fr }} *{{cite book | author-last1= Mélenchon | author-first1= Jean-Luc | title= Le hareng de Bismarck: Le poison allemand |publisher= [[Groupe Flammarion|J'ai lu]] |date=16 November 2016 | isbn=978-2290127940|language=fr| edition= paperback }} *{{cite book | author-last1= Mélenchon | author-first1= Jean-Luc | title= L'ère du peuple |publisher= [[Fayard]] |date=8 October 2014 | isbn=978-2213685755|language=fr }} == References == {{reflist|30em}} == External links == * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Official website|1=www.jean-luc-melenchon.fr|2=Official blog}} * [http://www.senat.fr/senfic/melenchon_jean_luc86039k.html Page on the French Senate website] * [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/politicalBodies/view.do;jsessionid=ED833155531FE7AB5D063DB14E57672C.node1?group=2954&partNumber=1&language=EN&id=96742 MEP webpage] * {{C-SPAN|106777}} {{Candidates in the 2022 French presidential election}} {{Candidates in the 2017 French presidential election}} {{Candidates in the 2012 French presidential election}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Melenchon, Jean-Luc}} [[Category:Jean-Luc Mélenchon| ]] [[Category:1951 births]] [[Category:Anti-German sentiment in Europe]] [[Category:Candidates in the 2012 French presidential election]] [[Category:Candidates in the 2017 French presidential election]] [[Category:Candidates in the 2022 French presidential election]] [[Category:Deputies of the 15th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic]] [[Category:Ecosocialists]] [[Category:French Senators of the Fifth Republic]] [[Category:French people of Italian descent]] [[Category:French people of Sicilian descent]] [[Category:French people of Spanish descent]] [[Category:Government ministers of France]] [[Category:Internationalist Communist Organisation politicians]] [[Category:La France Insoumise politicians]] [[Category:Left Party (France) MEPs]] [[Category:Left Party (France) politicians]] [[Category:Left-wing populism in France]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Lycée Pierre-Corneille alumni]] [[Category:MEPs for South-West France 2009–2014]] [[Category:MEPs for South-West France 2014–2019]] [[Category:People from Tangier]] [[Category:Socialist Party (France) politicians]] [[Category:Senators of Essonne]] [[Category:University of Franche-Comté alumni]] [[Category:French politicians convicted of crimes]] [[Category:Members of Parliament for Bouches-du-Rhône]] [[Category:French atheists]]'