French hard-left firebrand sparks row with ‘anti-Semitic’ Epstein jibe
The Straits Times
Mr Jean-Luc Melenchon rejected accusations of anti-Semitism, calling his comments “ironic”. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PARIS - France’s hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon has sparked new accusations of anti-Semitism after mocking the pronunciation of the name “Epstein” during a rally as calls grew on left-wing politicians on Feb 27 to break with the LFI leader.
The latest row involving the founder of the France Unbowed (LFI) party came ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential vote.
In recent days Mr 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 south-eastern city of Lyon on the evening of Feb 26, Mr 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 Mr Melenchon, a three-time presidential candidate expected to run again in elections in 2027.
“So now you’ll say Epsteen instead of Epstein, Franckensteen instead of Frankenstein,” he told a laughing audience.
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