One in a pineapple field in the southern hemisphere, the other in Paris to inaugurate the Agricultural Show. Everything differentiates him, boasts Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of Emmanuel Macron. Justifying his four-day visit to Reunion at a time when Russian planes and tanks are ravaging Ukrainian territory, the candidate of La France insoumise (LFI) continued, on Saturday February 26, to mark his radical opposition to the Head of State. . By his pride ” to be here ” in contrast with “an agreed meeting”. Especially, by exhibiting, from a French territory “located between Africa and Asia”, the non-aligned and anti-globalization diplomacy that he would conduct if he were elected President of the Republic in April.
In the Saint-Denis exhibition hall – where the 1,000 seated seats were not numerous enough to accommodate his supporters – Jean-Luc Mélenchon landed, for his “first official candidate meeting”, main adversary of Emmanuel Macron. “I am high enough in the polls and watched enough because everyone knows I am an electoral turtle”, he recalled, convinced to face the outgoing president in the second round. “Melenchon president”, chanted the activists, some brandishing his program book in pocket edition while others waved a fan against the heat of the southern summer.
“I referred to the highest authorities”
In this context of “turning point in history”, according to Mr. Macron, and of great concern in public opinion, there is no question for the “rebellious” candidate to spare the president from attacks in the name of a feeling of national harmony. Jean-Luc Mélenchon refuses to consider that the presidential campaign is on hold.
To Emmanuel Macron, who predicted that “the war will last”the candidate of the People’s Union replies in a directive way that it is necessary “stop climbing” and “obtain a ceasefire because the unfortunate Ukrainians live under the bombs”. He claims “immediate opening” a conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The choice is now made, he asserts gravely, between “the diplomacy of democracy or total war”.
The deputy of Bouches-des-Rhône, who is accused of not having thought that Russia would launch an invasion, had to recognize ” a mistake “. But by throwing the blame on the executive power. “I referred to what the highest authorities in my country were saying. I was wrong to believe them.” he pleads. Before calling the press into question: ” I said : “There is no risk of invasion”, it’s true, but you have to quote the rest of the sentence, which is: “by the very admission of the President of Ukraine”. »
You have 63.95% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.