French far-left leader Mlenchon announces 2022 presidential run

[discocrisco01]

Source: France 24

Melenchon, a spearhead of the opposition against French President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies and a supporter of the "yellow vest" anti-government protests, won an unprecedented 19.5% in the first round of the 2017 presidential election.

"We have to turn on a light at the end of the tunnel for people, we can do things differently," Melenchon said on television channel TF1's evening news.

"I am ready and I offer my candidacy," he said, adding he would do so only if 150,000 people signed up in favour in an online petition.

Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20201108-french

[sandensea]

1. As unpopular as Macron has become, it'll be between Melenchon and Marine LePew

Neither are ideal - but the thought of a fascist foothold in a country as important as France is downright affreux.

[appalachiablue]

2. +1 I thought she'd gone off with a young lover, dang Marine Le Pew

[sandensea]

3. Yes - but in France zis is considered a qualification

L'amour c'est tout!

[appalachiablue]

6. Oui, oui l'amour!

[Polybius]

4. Yikes

When far-left goes against far-right, who wins?

[sandensea]

5. In this case, the left has a better shot because they'd be better positioned in a runoff

Le Pen has tried her darndest to move to the center - particularly on economic policy, which is actually closer to Biden that Trump. for instance.

But she still can't shake her neo-fascist image (which, in some ways, she still is).

And because no one candidate will be able to run away with it on the first round, there'll be a runoff - and in that runoff, most other parties will endorse whoever's running against Le Pen (as they did in 2002 and '17).

If Mélenchon is the other name on the runoff (which remains to be seen), he'll almost certainly win. If it's Macron, he'll get his 2nd term (still possible).

Then, and as the song goes, he'll win the worship in their eyes and then he'll lose it. Because even if no major mistakes are made, the French seldom take long to become disillusioned at their presidents.

C'est la vie.