Surrounded by several rebellious deputies wearing the tricolor escape, Jean-Luc Mélenchon expressed concern on Thursday evening, in Lille, about the
“crossing of the incredible threshold of (the) political violence”
and a
“terrible atmosphere”
in the country. He spoke from a small square in the south of the city to a crowd made up mainly of young activists. A conference in which the rebellious leader was to participate this Thursday at the University of Lille on Palestine was canceled Wednesday because
"the conditions (were) no longer met to guarantee the serenity of the debates"
, according to the presidency of the university. After falling back on a private room, it was the prefect who this time requested the cancellation of the event due to a risk of
“disturbing public order”
.
On a makeshift platform, Jean-Luc Mélenchon raged against
“the informers, those who like to whisper in the ear of the master”
and who have
“covered themselves with infamy”
by asking for the conference to be banned. In addition to the prefects, who according to him
“have instructions to silence”
, he attacked the elected officials and the president of the university, whom he described as
“watchdogs”
. A few hours before going to this impromptu gathering, Jean-Luc Mélenchon had denounced on X
“an abuse of power of a banana republic”
.
“Ah my country, ah my homeland, what are you becoming?”
, he proclaimed into the microphone.
“No insolence”
As in Roubaix the day before, during a European campaign meeting, the rebellious leader defended himself against any anti-Semitism.
“You have no right to say that Madame Rima Hassan (a rebellious European candidate who is causing controversy for her positions on Palestine, editor's note) or that Jean-Luc Mélenchon are anti-Semites. Because if you thought so, you should file a complaint and you don't. So you are just here to smear, to insult
,” said the three-time presidential candidate. Before repeating:
“We are fundamentally anti-racist”
.
Rima Hassan, who was also invited to speak at the student conference that was ultimately canceled, spoke briefly from the Lille square.
“Censorship is the weapon of those who have already lost
,” she said, denouncing
“the racism”
to which she declares she is the subject. The widely acclaimed Franco-Palestinian activist has
“meet the students very soon for this conference”
. Both speakers called for refusing any violent response.
“No insolence. Look them in the eye, without a word. Let them read your contempt and your disappointment
,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who will speak Friday morning on the BFMTV set.