To help the New Popular Front win the legislative elections, Jean-Luc Mélenchon is ready to review his ambitions. “If you think that I should not be Prime Minister, I will not be,” the leader of the Insoumis declared on Sunday on France 3. According to him, it will be “up to the political parties which constitute the coalition” of the left to “make the right decision”.
“People kept saying for days and days that I was divisive. I was accused of everything and anything, anti-Semitism, this, that (…). I will never be the problem, I will always be on the side of the solution,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
“A government is not a bunch of friends”
Asked about the possibility of François Ruffin gaining access to Matignon in the event of a victory for the New Popular Front, the rebellious leader kicked in. “It’s an answer that is entirely up to him,” he said. “I saw him say ‘I’m ready'”, he added conciliatory despite the very harsh words of François Ruffin after the sidelining of the former traveling companions of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Raquel Garrido, Alexis Corbière and Danielle Simonnet.
“A government is not a group of friends, it is not an arrangement between currents. It’s about being able to withstand the shock of governing. It’s the worst job, Matignon,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
He also highlighted the desire of rebellious France to open up to figures from civil society, like the confederal leader of the CGT Céline Verzeletti, candidate in the constituency of Danielle Simonnet.
Mélenchon wants appeasement with Hollande
Asked about the support of the former President of the Republic François Hollande for the New Popular Front, and for his candidacy in Corrèze, Jean-Luc Mélenchon on the other hand appeared satisfied. “Any reinforcement is welcome to beat the National Rally. And the fewer people there are outside who are in a critical and obviously always very personalized relationship – I am the general lightning rod for all problems – so much the better.”
“This is the life of democracy. The PS chooses who it wants. For my part, I apply the rule that I ask him to apply,” he continued, while the PS criticized LFI’s investiture choices. “I throw the grudge into the river and I hope he (François Hollande) does the same. And we are going to have complicated problems to resolve. It is better to do it in an atmosphere where everyone contributes their intelligence rather than their resentment,” he said.
However, the story is completely different for the LFI coordinator. Manuel Bompard judged François Hollande’s candidacy “incongruous and absolutely incoherent” on BFMTV.