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German Centrists Are Smearing Die Linke as Antisemites
(jacobin.com)
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this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2026
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Hmm, I'm not one to give leftists a pass for antisemic statements, but having looked up a bit the context, I think you're misrepresenting Mélenchon's actual words, putting them in the worst possible light, where a good faith reading of his statements would place them in the "unfortunate wording of a somewhat valid point" that Mélenchon actually apologized for afterwards.
The "Jews killed Jesus" incident apparently was him trying to make a point about Macron being attacked internally and that sometimes members of your own group turn on you. So it wasn't about calling Jews christ-killers, it was a bad use of a trope that he should have known to not use, and for which he apologized.
He also didn't say that antisemitism isn't a problem, he said it's residual in France, which, you know, means it's still there. He did minimize the issue, that's true, but we do live in an environment like the one described in the OP article where antisemitism is used very irresponsibility.
The Zemour thing is also kind of weird? He was trying to defend Zemour, who's a Jewish french nationalist, against an accusation of antisemitism by saying that his conservatism is part of how Judaism has survived over the centuries. He then also apparently subsequently admitted he expressed himself poorly.
So, overall, this all looks to me less like an antisemite and more like someone who runs his mouth a bit more than he should. It is perfectly reasonable however to criticize him for his own irresponsibility and for the hurtful nature of his comments.
That said, my argument is not that he's really good at "handling antisemitism" (these cases obviously prove he sucks at it). My point was that he's good at calling out centrist irresponsibility and lack seriousness in general, eg when it comes to the economy. He's an example of how I think the left should attack the centre, not an example of how the left should talk about antisemitism. Je me suis mal exprimé comme Mélenchon évidemment.
I was saying nothing more than that he's bad at handling antisemitism. I don't think he is antisemitic, but by his unfortunate words (fueled by the fact that he downplays the strength of antisemitism in France and in French left) he normalizes, unwillingly, antisemitism.
Yea that's fair.
He is a terrible choice for a progressive political movement, that's for sure
There will never be a perfect person to lead a progressive movement, there are only those imperfect people who take up the mantle. If ever you're dissatisfied with your choices you should consider taking up the mantle yourself.