French Far-Left Leader Accuses Netanyahu of Election Interference

French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is interfering in French elections.In a speech to La France Insoumise, or France Unbowed, party supporters, Mr. Mélenchon also alleged Russian interference in elections.“It’s not the ultra-left groups, it’s Mr. Netanyahu who influences the elections in Marseille, Toulouse, Roubaix, and Paris. See there. Yes,” the far-left leader said to applause. “And then it seems there are the Russians,” he added without explaining.“So this country is an open bar? Anyone can go,” Mr. Mélenchon said.A former deputy of the French National Assembly, Meyer Habib, criticized Mr. Mélenchon for trying the shift focus from his own failings. “JL Mélenchon unleashed, as always, accuses the Jews! It pays off!!” he said in an X post.”Yes, for Mélenchon Netanyahu the prime minister of the Jews is responsible for setting France ablaze!!” Mr. Habib added.Mr. Mélenchon has previously claimed that Mr. Netanyahu financed smear campaigns against France Unbowed candidates in March municipal elections. The campaigns used fake websites and social media accounts to spread false allegations against three of the party’s candidates. The false claims involved rape, sexual offenses against children, and Islamist influence, Clash Report reported. An Israeli company was blamed for the operation but no link to Mr. Netanyahu or the Israeli government has been identified.Mr. Mélenchon has pro-Palestinian positions and critics have accused him of delivering antisemitic messaging.Mr. Mélenchon is fighting to come in at least second place in the first round of next April’s presidential election to select a replacement for the highly unpopular Emmanuel Macron, who is ineligible to seek reelection due to term limits. Analysts in France say National Rally leader Marine Le Pen is positioning herself as the voice of reason that can restore order. Polls show her party dominates the canvassing with 34 to 38 percent of support.If Ms. Le Pen’s vote doesn’t top 50 percent, she would face a run off election with the candidate with the second most votes. The latest Ifop poll shows Mr. Mélenchon narrowly in second place but the poll shows Ms. Le Pen winning the second round of voting against any of the current candidates.Mr. Mélenchon’s party is widely blamed for fomenting violent protests that have spread across France for weeks. The riots are now at the center of debate ahead of the election.On Saturday, thousands of businesses were looted or destroyed, at least 2,400 people were arrested, and more than 1,000 police officers sustained injuries.The controversy of blame erupted in the national assembly on Tuesday with a confrontation between Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and parliamentarian Manuel Bompard, Mr. Mélenchon’s campaign director, over the riots.French courts are trying to quickly handle hundreds of cases tied to riot arrests. Fast-tracked trials began Monday at Paris Judicial Court for hundreds of people arrested Saturday. The first trials involved people caught carrying weapons. Many of Tuesday’s trials involved suspects accused of looting stores.Journalists in the courtroom reported many of the defendants without prior criminal records were given suspended sentences as long as they stayed out of further trouble. The trials continued Wednesday.French authorities are planning a “massive” police deployment this coming weekend in response to calls for a new round of protests. Ms. Le Pen’s National Rally is holding a convention at Paris and there are concerns that it could be targeted by protesters.The police are on high alert across the country and the French government vows a stronger response to avoid a repeat of last weekend.

French Far-Left Leader Accuses Netanyahu of Election Interference

French Far-Left Leader Accuses Netanyahu of Election Interference

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