Interviewed in the program “Quelle époque!” on his September 18 tweet, which outraged feminists and helped put La France insoumise in difficulty, Mr. 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 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 told me What are you getting into?”, he added.
“I understand people saying No, you have to step in to point it out, but I think that’s a mistake: there wasn’t even an investigation, she says I don’t want to talk about me, everyone doesn’t care 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, 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 comes back to the political fight,” said Mr. Mélenchon, praising an “extraordinarily brilliant young man” that “you can’t not forbid me to love”.
