Interviewed in the program “Quelle époque!” on his tweet of September 18, which outraged feminists and contributed to putting La France insoumise in difficulty, Jean-Luc Mélenchon replied: “Everyone can do better, me too”. In this tweet, the rebellious leader denounced “police malice, media voyeurism, social networks” and saluted the “dignity” and “courage” of Adrien Quatennens, who had just confessed to domestic violence and announced his withdrawal from coordination of LFI.
“I accept criticism”
“I accept your judgement, I accept the criticism,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Saturday. But he justified his reaction: “I forbid myself to comment” on the divorce of friends and a handrail that the wife of Adrien Quatennens wanted confidential. Because “if I had said one word too many, it was she who could have said to me, ‘What are you getting involved in?'”, he added.
“I understand people saying ‘No, you have to step in and point it out’, but I think that’s a mistake: there wasn’t even an investigation, she says ‘I don’t want that’ we’re talking about me’, nobody cares what she says, not me”, developed the former presidential candidate (22% in April).
“All those who are feminists – and I count myself in it – we have the right to disagree, I do not agree that the handrails pass in the public”, declared Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
“The slap was a year ago, there hasn’t been one for a year”
“The slap was a year ago, there hasn’t been one for a year, and we have to take into account that he apologizes,” he defended.
Should Adrien Quatennens resign from his mandate as a deputy, after withdrawing from the coordination of LFI? “My answer is no: let this divorce end, let the judge rule. And I hope he will return to the political fight,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, praising an “extraordinarily brilliant young man” whom “you don’t can’t forbid me to love”.