Overview
- In a France Inter interview, Fabien Roussel said he does not identify with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s “new France” and argued it divides the country and hides class struggle.
- He accused Mélenchon of essentializing people and said he prefers a “new Republic” that defends strict equality of citizens regardless of origin, faith, or skin color.
- Roussel acknowledged deep discrimination in France against Muslims, Arabs, and Black people and said they face near-systemic stigmatization, including in some media.
- He ruled out taking part in a left primary and said the Communist Party will consider a presidential bid at its congress in July.
- AFP described him as a likely candidate as he recalled his 2.28% in 2022, and the dispute highlights La France Insoumise’s identity-first outreach versus the PCF’s class-first line.