At the Corum, in front of 1,400 people according to the organizers, the one who is no longer a deputy but remains a leader of his movement defended the strategy of the LFI group, which tabled thousands of amendments and caused incidents in session.

"We were elected to be the opposition, not to be their minion," he said.

"Be masters of time, choose the pace with which you fight the battle," insisted the tribune.

On article 7, "you hope to beat us on this article to put in your newspapers + The National Assembly has adopted retirement at 64 + and there the nerds will say + ah we have lost once more +", did you -he adds.

Earlier in the day, on Twitter, he had asked his troops to maintain the amendments and not to "rush", despite pressure from other left parties and unions who want the examination of this article of reform.

The leader of the Insoumis (LFI), Jean-Luc Mélenchon, during a meeting in Montpellier, February 16, 2023 © Pascal GUYOT / AFP

Jean-Luc Mélenchon also returned to the incidents which involved two deputies from his movement.

"There were, it seems, too many words", still quipped Jean-Luc Mélenchon, in particular with reference to the term "assassin" launched this week in the Assembly by the deputy Aurélien Saintoul at the address of the minister Labor Olivier Dussopt.

"I never apologize," he warned.

"The small natures are afraid, + should not say it +", he cursed.

But "you know like me that Thomas Portes did not want to incite the death of anyone" by posting on social networks a photo of him with one foot resting on a ball bearing the image of Olivier Dussopt.

Mr. Mélenchon warned, to applause: "We won't lower our voices, anywhere, as long as I'm there (...); we'll win".

Addressing his socialist, communist and environmentalist partners in Nupes, he added: "We are rebels within an alliance called Nupes, but above all rebels, and we takes care of our insubordination".

The leader of the Insoumis (LFI), Jean-Luc Mélenchon, during a meeting in Montpellier, February 16, 2023 © Pascal GUYOT / AFP

"I ask my comrades in the Nupes, no need to go barking with the others, even if you do not agree", he added.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon ended his meeting by calling, like the inter-union, for the blocking of France on March 7.

© 2023 AFP