[size=medium]Not placing “too much emphasis on what Mélenchon said in his book about Germany” is to fundamentally ignore his chauvinistic and xenophobic traits.[/size]
Pointing out a serious flaw in a potential leaders character is perfectly valid particularly when the leader will be obliged to work with those he sees not as individuals but as an inherently inferior collective.
Leaving that aside, assuming that the “immediate backlash” against Mélanchon is because he is suggesting “ modifications to the underlying agreements” is inaccurate- in the vast majority of articles that I’ve read [size=medium]the authors are broadly in favour of advocating change to treaties but abhor his germaphobic stance.[/size]
It is clear from Mélenchon's stance that it is not modification of the treaties that interests him as much as absolute rupture and removing France from the influence of “Le poison Allemand”
As if the arrogance of the French government and those who manage public and private finances in France was beyond reproach or was betraying their fundamental “Frenchness”
As if capitalism in France did not exist as something French in itself (because this too is the premise of his book), as if French industries did not relocate, as if French banks did not have a parasitic interest in the economies of southern Europe, as if the major French distribution groups didn’t dominate in Poland and Greece.
His economic policy is admired and supported by economists, it reads well, and aims high in terms of financial equality and social justice but it completely disregards, as does his pamphlet the points above ie the reality that his views are the polar opposite of many of his fellow French.
There are substantial numbers of French people who would not or could not support the measures proposed – so if he’s proposing a democratic and just society how does he reconcile these extremes?
How will he deal with the multitude of private enterprises in France who will not / cannot suck up the changes and the social consequences of same?
I would criticize the fetisisation of politicians of the extremes, both right and left, those who have zero interest in remaining in the EU, and those who believe that savage change , super patriotism and nationalism is the way forward for Europe
