With France still in shock over the results of its parliamentary elections, Jewish community leaders are sounding the alarm over the potential inclusion of far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI) in a new government coalition.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), is leading the charge. "We need to raise awareness among the moderate left that it will not be acceptable to be in a coalition with Mélenchon," Arfi told The Jerusalem Post, referring to LFI's leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The elections resulted in a fragmented National Assembly, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble bloc losing its majority. This outcome necessitates coalition-building to form a government capable of passing legislation.
CRIF and other Jewish organizations had campaigned against both far-right and far-left parties. Now, with the far-right National Rally's surge contained, their focus has shifted to preventing LFI's inclusion in any coalition.
Arfi didn't mince words about Mélenchon: "Mélenchon is a person who is a threat against the Jews." He accused the LFI leader of fueling an anti-Israel climate in France and putting "a target on the back of all Jews who support Israel."
The CRIF president advocates for a coalition of moderate parties from the center, left, and right. "The only possible coalition is democratic and Republican," Arfi stated, emphasizing that Jewish groups would continue to advocate for these values.
Arfi acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained resolute: "I'm always concerned about the future, but French Jews are here to stay, and we are here to fight."
*JPost contributed to this article.