France's Left-wing bloc in jeopardy as allies fall out
The leader of the far-Left party in France called his former political partners, the Socialists, 'toxic allies' as he severed ties with the party and put the Leftist bloc in jeopardy.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's France Unbowed party was one of several Left-wing groups that united under the banner the New Popular Front to contest France's 2024 legislative election and stop the far-Right winning.
Though they succeeded, the results led to a hung parliament, with no party obtaining an absolute majority.
'The Socialists are no longer our allies,' Mr Mélenchon said in an interview with the weekly news magazine La Tribune Dimanche.
The coalition between France Unbowed, the Socialists, the Greens and the Communists was fragile from the start, with the parties divided over who should be their prime ministerial candidate and disagreements over party lines.
After eight months of working together, Mr Mélenchon attacked his former ally for refusing to support the party's efforts to topple the government in several votes of no confidence, and for being receptive to the idea of a public discussion on national identity.
'I was seriously mistaken on one point. The Socialists never intended to be partners. They just wanted to take advantage of us,' Mr Mélenchon said.
He also lashed out at Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist party, for being receptive to the government's proposal of opening up a national debate on French identity.
Many on the Left criticised it as the discourse of the far-Right and of trying to pander to them.
Mr Mélenchon called the proposal odious, and Mr Faure's position outdated and inappropriate.
Mr Melenchon enjoyed a 32-year association with the Socialist Party before breaking with them in 2008.
When asked if he plans to run for president in 2027, Mr Mélenchon, who has made three failed presidential bids, gave a vague reply.
'I said I want to be replaced, and I still do,' he said.
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