Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France’s far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), on Thursday accused the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) of exerting undue influence over French ministers. Speaking at a conference, Mélenchon criticized the annual CRIF dinner—a high-profile political event in France where senior government officials typically attend—alleging that ministers “follow orders” from the organization. He described the event as a “far-right machine” and suggested that politicians attend primarily for appearances while being politically controlled.

Mélenchon’s remarks came in the context of a recent controversy involving the cancellation of an LFI-organized “anti-racism” concert in Paris. CRIF president Yonathan Arfi had publicly questioned the concert’s appropriateness for democracy on June 16. The following day, the Paris police prefect Patrice Faure issued an order banning the event, citing concerns over potential public disorder and certain invited performers. After LFI challenged the ban, the Paris Administrative Court suspended the order on June 19, permitting the concert to proceed as scheduled on June 21.

The comments by Mélenchon prompted a strong response from political and community leaders who condemned the allegations as perpetuating antisemitic conspiracy theories. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that Mélenchon’s suggestion of the government “taking orders” from CRIF revived “an antisemitic trope based on the fantasy of secret Jewish influence” over political power. He added that such insinuations are “unworthy of a political leader” and contribute to dangerous conspiracy thinking.

Yonathan Arfi also rejected the claim, accusing LFI of advancing antisemitic narratives. Arfi criticized Mélenchon’s implication that decisions by the Paris police prefect were influenced by a CRIF tweet rather than legal considerations and public interest. He characterized the notion of Jews secretly controlling power as “one of the most worn-out antisemitic prejudices.”

Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, director of American Jewish Committee Europe, described Mélenchon’s remarks as a clear example of antisemitism. She said that portraying a Jewish organization as the covert authority directing the state embodies “antisemitism in its most blatant form: conspiracy, hidden strings, shadow.” Rodan-Benzaquen also labeled LFI itself as a “passionately antisemitic party.”

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in French politics regarding the boundaries of criticism toward Jewish institutions and allegations of antisemitism within far-left movements. The dispute over the concert and subsequent public statements signal a fraught political climate ahead of upcoming electoral contests.