Glucksmann compares Mélenchon to Jean-Marie Le Pen after controversy over the pronunciation of his name

In recent days, Mélenchon has faced accusations of anti-Semitism after mocking Jeffrey Epstein’s Jewish-sounding name and wondering whether the pronunciation “Epstine” was intended to ‘Russianize’ that name. Critics accused him of amusing himself with the pronunciation of Jewish names and suggested that there was a conspiracy to conceal the Jewish origins of the American pedocriminal.

Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist Party, warned on X that the situation is escalating. “This will end badly… I cannot help but think of all those who have sincerely followed La France insoumise and do not want to be dragged into what is no longer a slip but a strategy drifting on the black waters of anti-Semitism,” he wrote.

The comparison with Jean-Marie Le Pen refers to an infamous pun from 1988, “Durafour crématoire”, with which the founder of the National Front linked Minister Michel Durafour’s name to Nazi camps. He was convicted for that.

So far, the Socialists and Greens have not completely closed the door to local agreements with La France insoumise in the March 15 and 22 municipal elections, but that would happen on a case-by-case basis and on the condition that candidates take clear positions against anti-Semitism and political violence. Meanwhile, within the PS there are calls for a complete break with Mélenchon’s party, including François Hollande, Jérôme Guedj and Carole Delga.

During his meeting in Perpignan, Mélenchon fiercely defended himself against the allegations. “I am not an anti-Semite,” he shouted. “I am for countless reasons, and I have no intention of submitting accounts and baptismal certificates to anyone.” He added: “We fight Islamophobia, we fight anti-Semitic racism.”