French Presidential Hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon slammed over past comments on Vladimir Putin
Ukraine conflict
Candidate's remarks from 2016 resurface, sparking criticism
French presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon has come under fire after past comments he made about Russian President Vladimir Putin resurfaced. In a 2016 interview, Mélenchon praised Putin, saying that he was "going to sort out the problem in Syria." These comments have been widely criticized in light of Putin's recent decision to invade Ukraine.
Mélenchon has since attempted to clarify his remarks, saying that he was referring to Putin's efforts to combat terrorism in Syria. However, his comments have nonetheless raised concerns about his judgment and his stance on Russia.
Mélenchon is a far-left candidate who is currently polling in third place in the French presidential election. He is known for his anti-establishment views and his criticism of NATO. Some observers have suggested that Mélenchon's past comments on Putin may hurt his chances of winning the election.
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