At a meeting in Marseille on March 7, 2026, Jean-Luc Mélenchon sharply criticized the Socialist Party's «irresponsible and dangerous» attitude, one week before the first round of municipal elections. Supporting La France insoumise candidate Sébastien Delogu, he stated that «Marseille will not be swept away by the brown wave» of the Rassemblement national. He also denied antisemitism accusations from his former left-wing allies.
On March 7, 2026, one week before the first round of municipal elections on March 15, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of La France insoumise, held a meeting in Marseille to support his candidate Sébastien Delogu against incumbent mayor Benoît Payan, who leads a left-wing coalition including the Socialist Party.
Before about 2500 militants, Mélenchon targeted the far right, particularly Rassemblement national's Jordan Bardella, who visited the city the day before. «Such was Pétain, such is Bardella when he says “the commercial and strategic interest imposes itself for the United States of America”», he stated, comparing Bardella's positions on Donald Trump to those of Marshal Pétain.
He then aimed at the Socialist Party, accusing it of putting «everyone in great danger». «Alert! The Socialist Party's line puts everyone in great danger. The left, but France first, which it would deliver to the far right in the end», he warned. To illustrate, he mimed a bird then a bat: «See my wings, I am the Socialist Party and a bird [...] I am a bat. That's the emblem it should choose.»
Benoît Payan called on Delogu to withdraw for him between the two rounds to avoid an RN victory, described as a «seismic event». Mélenchon replied: «Marseille will not be swept away by the brown wave and it will be thanks to us».
This speech follows antisemitism accusations against Mélenchon, notably for remarks on the names «Epstein» and «Glucksmann». Olivier Faure, PS leader, told Le Parisien: «Who can believe it was a slip when such a cultured man starts ironizing on Jewish names?» Mélenchon denied the allegations, stating that minister Benjamin Haddad is «committed to Mr. Netanyahu's policy».
Despite tensions, local arrangements for the second round on March 22 remain possible, though a national agreement was ruled out by the PS.
