Jean-Luc Mélenchon declined to apologize for an incident considered anti-Semitic that sparked outrage within the political left.
The incident involved a potentially offensive image posted by La France Insoumise (LFI) on their account and hastily taken down.
Mélenchon is accused of trying to manipulate prejudices for his own ends.
Mélenchon has also denied and downplayed the incident.
His conduct suggests a break with the longstanding tradition of fighting racism and anti-Semitism on the left.
Conclusion: Mélenchon's behavior is seen as dangerous and deceitful, playing with prejudices to advance his own end and rediscovering anti-Semitic tactics of the left that were once discarded.