Several Socialist leaders have expressed outrage over a message from Sophia Chikirou, a member of the La France Insoumise (LFI) party and close to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who shared a tribute to Hamas leader Ismaël Haniyeh on her personal Instagram account. Haniyeh was killed in a strike in Tehran on July 31, with Israel being blamed for the attack. The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, criticized Chikirou’s actions, stating that the New Popular Front (NFP) program is clear and that her provocations only serve to create controversy and do not reflect the collective work of the left-wing alliance.
Carole Delga, the Socialist president of the Occitanie region, also condemned Chikirou’s actions on social media, calling them “abhorrent” and accusing her of promoting terrorism and spreading hatred towards Jews. Delga expressed disappointment that the values of the NFP alliance, which brought together the Socialist Party, LFI, Communist Party, and Greens in the legislative elections, were being disregarded. The Mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, who has opposed an alliance between the Socialist Party and LFI since 2022, stated that he would not work with elected officials or a party that fails to condemn such positions.
Screenshots of Chikirou’s personal Instagram account, showing the tribute to Ismaël Haniyeh, were published without any denial from Chikirou herself. The tribute, originally posted by the organization Urgence Palestine, has attracted criticism for its perceived support for terrorism. The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (Licra) called for Chikirou to be ostracized from the political sphere, stating that such levels of complacency should not be tolerated in the Republic. The Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF) announced that they would file a lawsuit for the glorification of terrorism in response to Chikirou’s actions.
The controversy surrounding Chikirou’s tribute to Ismaël Haniyeh has raised concerns within the left-wing political alliance and has sparked debates over the values and principles upheld by the NFP. The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, emphasized the clarity of the alliance’s program and criticized Chikirou for her actions, which he believes undermine the collective efforts of the left-wing parties. Carole Delga also expressed her dismay over the situation, highlighting the need to uphold the values and contracts of the NFP alliance and condemning actions that go against the core principles of the Socialist Party.
As the fallout from Chikirou’s tribute to Ismaël Haniyeh continues, the reactions from various Socialist leaders reflect a broader challenge facing the left-wing alliance in maintaining unity and coherence. The decision by the Mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, to distance himself from LFI and those who refuse to condemn contentious positions highlights the internal divisions within the left-wing camp. The legal actions taken by organizations like Licra and UEJF also underscore the seriousness of the implications of Chikirou’s actions and the need to address them at both a political and legal level.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Sophia Chikirou’s tribute to Ismaël Haniyeh has thrust the NFP alliance into a state of disarray, with Socialist leaders expressing outrage and condemning her actions. The incident has exposed internal divisions within the left-wing camp and raised questions about the values and principles that underpin the alliance. The legal implications of Chikirou’s actions also highlight the need for accountability and responsibility within the political sphere. Moving forward, the left-wing alliance will need to address these challenges in order to maintain unity and credibility in the eyes of the French electorate.
