“Picture this: my son started talking in the vein of the extreme left!” sighed a friend with such heartfelt sorrow in her voice that words alone couldn’t capture it. And no wonder! She knows firsthand what communist ideology entails, not just from stories. But… young ones have their own set of challenges and tests. Extreme left radicalism, with its ‘revolutionary romanticism’, continues to allure generation after generation. Thankfully, the French didn’t endure concentration camps or the Holodomor, making it all the easier for them to be swept away by illusions.
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Most of today’s twenty-year-olds will only come to understand later on that Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s interpretation of the ideals of freedom, equality, and brotherhood is merely populist rhetoric. Currently, according to sociologists’ conclusions, almost 80% of the support for the La France Insoumise (Unsubdued France) party comes from people under the age of 25. Not least due to skilful communication strategies, active presence on social media, and various youth forums.
“He’s like this cool grandpa who’s got an opinion on everything,” says Maelis, a student at one of the universities in Paris. “He talks in the same slang as us, speaks out against injustice and the rich folks who’ve got it all; he criticises the heartless Americans who pull the wool over everyone’s eyes… It’s all the stuff that hits home for us. Almost all of my mates are gearing up to vote for the ‘Unsubdued’ in the upcoming European Parliament elections this spring.”
In a way, Mélenchon is a fixture on the French political stage. He’s been around for decades. The grey hair, wrinkles, and grumpy attitude don’t put off new generations of young folks.
“Anyone who doesn’t vote for the far left in their youth has no heart, but those who still back them after fifty have no brain,” remarks a neighbour.
“Jean-Luc Mélenchon can talk the talk, but he’s still got a rock-solid voter base — no less than 10–12% of the ballots. While he might be shedding some support from the moderate left, he’s still got that ultra-leftist backing among the radical voters,” points out Jean-Yves Dormagen, the brain behind the Cluster17 institute — an independent think tank that dives deep into public opinion.
The leader of Unsubdued France often makes various statements, particularly when discussing Russia’s war against Ukraine, a topic he frequently addresses on Twitter. “We maintain our independence. We have no superior, no political allegiance. Our decisions are guided by the interests of our nation, ensuring our principles remain steadfast regardless of the circumstances. We will never support involvement in a conflict against China or Russia,” he recently communicated on his social media platform.
This consistency is evident: Mélenchon’s party has consistently refrained from endorsing substantial military aid to Ukraine, acknowledging the Holodomor as a genocide or implementing specific anti-Russian sanctions.
Mélenchon’s unwavering pro-Russian stance remains steadfast against the test of time and reason. “Engaging in a war with Russia will only lead to our complete annihilation. All our allies have dismissed Macron’s proposal of deploying troops to Ukraine. Our obligation is to seek avenues for peace discussions. Peace is attainable!” Mélenchon boldly asserts, conveniently “forgetting” the support from leaders of Finland and the Baltic countries for the notion of potential military presence on Ukraine’s side. The terms for “peace” with the Russians are a distinct matter, but who rigorously fact-checks information? The simplistic worldview lures the youth, offering illusions of straightforward solutions to intricate dilemmas.
Those closely monitoring the Russian-Ukrainian conflict staunchly oppose the Unsubdued [Mélenchon’s party] for their callous accommodation of the aggressor. However, politically aware young individuals under the age of 25 are not plentiful. In general, the majority of the country’s residents continue to stand by Ukraine, as they did before. Yet, for the average French citizen, the Ukrainian dilemma isn’t their primary worry. They’re more concerned about climate change, droughts in the South of France, rising prices, and job search woes… Each person has their immediate worries. Mélenchon deftly plays on the fears and worldview discrepancies of the youth, ensnaring them in the intricacies of his political manoeuvrings.
What renders the French far-left perilous in its support for Ukraine? Chiefly, it’s the steadfast pro-Moscow stance of its leader. While the far-right, under Marine Le Pen’s leadership, often refrains from voting on military aid “out of deference for the heroic Ukrainian people,” the far-left openly aligns with Kremlin interests. Whether in European Parliament votes or on the national stage, the Unsubdued faction consistently echoes Moscow’s agenda. Looking ahead to the European Parliament elections slated for early June, the rising popularity of this political entity opens up further avenues for the pro-Russian lobby. The instability across the pond only amplifies this peril.
