Jeremy Corbyn is promising to forge closer ties with his French counterpart Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the hard-left La France Insoumise party. The pair met at the Labour conference in Liverpool, and some commentators have hailed the start of a beautiful partnership.
The conceit is that this pair of pensioners are together somehow the future of European socialism. Well, Corbyn might become Britain’s prime minister for all I know, although I prefer to doubt it. But should there be any doubt whatsoever on the corollary subject, I am able to assert with absolute confidence that there is a better chance that the French would elect me than Mélenchon.
He has been taken more seriously of late after some polls found him to be seen as Emmanuel Macron’s strongest opponent. But Corbynites rejoicing at this should know that such polls are a consequence of Macron’s plunge as he dives into conflict with the nationalised industries and the 5.8 million-strong civil service. He finished fourth in the first round of last year’s presidential election and there is no conceivable credible scenario in which he can do better. The arithmetic of the French presidential system is brutal and Mélenchon can never win, no more than can Marine Le Pen, while it is hard to see how Macron will lose. Mélenchon’s list for the European Parliament is currently polling at 12.5 per cent. Mélenchon doesn’t even want to win, I suspect. By 2022 he will be less relevant than ever. He knows it would be hard work and he’d be blamed for everything.
The daily Libération loved the Corbyn-Mélenchon bro-love. It reported that the two men conversed in Spanish when they met on Merseyside, since Mélenchon speaks no English and Corbyn no French.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in