Sophia Chikirou, MP for La France Insoumise (LFI) and close collaborator of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, recently sparked a controversy by criticizing François Ruffin's support for Hendrik Davi, a candidate “purged” from NUPES. Chikirou's statement on Twitter sparked strong reactions and highlighted internal tensions within the movement.
The context
Hendrik Davi, ecology researcher and outgoing NUPES MP in Marseille, tweeted a message of thanks to François Ruffin for his support for his legislative candidacy. Davi, who describes himself as “purged from @franceinsoumise,” shared a visual affirming Ruffin’s support for his campaign. Davi's exact tweet was: “Thank you @Francois_Ruffin for your support! #Legislatives2024” accompanied by an image of Ruffin expressing his support:
In response, Sophia Chikirou tweeted: “Supporting someone like the rope supports the hanged man. » This statement quickly attracted attention, sparking debate on social media.
A French expression
The phrase “Support someone like the rope supports the hanged man” is a metaphor that illustrates the idea of apparent but actually detrimental support. In other words, it evokes help which, instead of being useful, ends up harming the person helped, in the same way that the rope, by “supporting” the hanged man, causes his death.
Internal tensions within LFI
Sophia Chikirou is known to be very close to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France Insoumise. This proximity partly explains the current tensions vis-à-vis François Ruffin and the “purged” members of NUPES. Divergences within LFI and the management of candidates for the legislative elections have created a climate of distrust and internal conflicts.
By criticizing Ruffin's support for Davi, Chikirou highlights the fractures and strategic disagreements within the movement. His tweet suggests that Ruffin's support for a "purged" candidate could be seen as hypocritical or harmful to LFI's cohesion.
Reactions and Interpretations
Reactions to the use of this phrase have been varied. Some applauded Chikirou's frankness, appreciating his use of direct expression to criticize support perceived as hypocritical. Others found the expression too harsh or inappropriate, especially in the tense political context.
Sophia Chikirou, by using the expression “Support someone like the rope supports the hanged man”, wanted to denounce a form of support that she considers hypocritical or harmful. His explanation on Twitter clarified the intention behind his words, but also revealed the tensions and differences of opinion within La France Insoumise.
