Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a leading presidential candidate in France, has pointedly accused Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu of meddling in French elections.
At a conference with HEC Paris students, the LFI de facto leader alleged that Netanyahu “paid people” to carry out smear campaigns against his party’s candidates in Toulouse, Marseille, and Roubaix.
“Foreign interference is becoming increasingly widespread, and it goes unpunished,” Mélenchon said, decrying the lack of sanctions for election tampering.
French investigators recently linked an Israeli firm to an intrusion in local elections in March, with suspicion that such actors remain active ahead of the presidential election on April 18, 2027.
Turning to business and trade, Mélenchon praised China for its industrial revolution, asserting the Asian nation is the global leader in manufacturing.
“The Chinese have won the manufacturing battle,” the left-wing politician declared.
“We must reach an understanding with them. We must treat them as partners, not enemies.”
Mélenchon stated that as President, he will not go to war alongside the Americans against the Chinese over Taiwan “because Taiwan is part of China.”
On immigration, the former Member of the European Parliament said “France will no longer be possible” if the authorities decide to treat people according to skin color, religion, or address.
Mélenchon maintained that France must continue to help Ukraine since the Russians crossed the border and started the war, adding, “I do not think the right way to draw borders is to invade your neighbors.”
A veteran of French politics, 75-year-old Mélenchon, who has held several parliamentary, ministerial, and party leadership roles, is making a fourth bid for the presidency after running in 2012, 2017, and 2022.
Mélenchon accuses Netanyahu of interfering in French elections