Le Pen in fake Arabic pamphlet scandal
Supporters of far right leader Marine le Pen have been distributing fake pamphlets in Arabic to discredit her opponent, far left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon.
"It’s fake propaganda and it could cost her the election because it’s illegal to distribute fake pamphlets in France," says Jean-Luc Melenchon. Melenchon and le Pen are both campaining for the same constituency Henin-Beaumont in the north of France ahead of parliamentary elections this month.
On Tuesday, National Front supporters were caught distributing fake pamphlets calling on voters to support Melenchon. The leaflet had a photo of Melenchon and includes a quote "There is no future for France without the Arabs and Berbers of North Africa" from a political meeting in Marseille. The pamphlet also has another caption that reads "Vote Melenchon" in Arabic.
At first, the National Front denied responsibility for the pamphlets, saying friends of the party had distributed them.
But later le Pen admitted her party distributed the pamphlets. "I take responsibility for the pamphlet," said le Pen on French TV channel Canal plus, "It’s not unfair, I was simply quoting him".
Both Melenchon and le Pen ran for the presidential elections in May this year.
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