French hard-left firebrand sparks row with 'antisemitic' Epstein jibe

In recent days Melenchon has been under huge pressure over the death of an activist, and observers expect the far-right to benefit even more from the latest row.

Speaking at a gathering in the southeastern city of Lyon on Thursday evening, Melenchon invoked the name of Jeffrey Epstein, after recent disclosures detailed the convicted sex offender's extensive ties to the world's rich and famous.

"I wanted to say 'Epstein', sorry, it sounds more Russian, 'Epsteen'," said Melenchon, a three-time presidential candidate expected to run again in elections next year.

"So now you'll say Epsteen instead of Epstein, Franckensteen instead of Frankenstein," he told a laughing audience.

- 'Ironic' -

The comments sparked outrage from across the political spectrum.

Melenchon, 74, rejected accusations of antisemitism, calling his comments "ironic".

President Emmanuel Macron shared a video of a recent speech he made condemning the "antisemitic hydra" that had crept into "every crack" of French society.

"This was 15 days ago", he said.

"Jean-Luc Melenchon has crossed all boundaries," said Gabriel Attal, head of Macron's Renaissance party and former prime minister. 

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described Melenchon's remarks as "abject", while Equality Minister Aurore Berge wrote on X that "antisemitism in France can be spelled out in three letters: L-F-I."

Socialist lawmaker Laurence Rossignol condemned the comments as "the most terrifying antisemitism".

"How many decades has it been since a politician made a room laugh by rattling off Jewish names, emphasising their pronunciation, with a sneer of hatred?" Rossignol said.

The leader of the far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella, denounced Thursday's rally as a "brutal, chilling meeting with openly antisemitic overtones".

- 'Intolerable remarks' - 

Posting on X, Yonathan Arfi, head of the French Jewish group Crif, said of Melenchon's quip : "To see this pronunciation as manipulation is a conspiracy theory with real antisemitic overtones."

"It is no longer up to the rest of the left to banish LFI from the progressive camp," said left-leaning newspaper Liberation.

"It is now up to France Unbowed to get rid of Jean-Luc Melenchon."

Former Socialist president Francois Hollande said Melenchon had made "the most intolerable antisemitic remarks."

"Everyone must now draw their own conclusions," he added.

Melenchon sought to push back.

"The reaction of those who see this as antisemitism is appalling," he said on X, arguing that it was a way of "deliberately inciting violence against LFI".

The LFI and Melenchon have faced accusations of failing to properly condemn the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.

Melenchon and his party have in recent days been under fire over the killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon. 

The 23-year-old died following clashes between radical left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a February 12 demonstration against a politician from Melenchon's party.

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