Mélenchon Defends Two LFI Politicians, Cites "Racism"
Listen to the story
Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a French politician. He leads a party called LFI.
Mélenchon spoke about two men in his party. Their names are Bally Bagayoko and Aly Diouara.
He said the media treat them badly. He said this is because they are Black.
Mélenchon called this systemic racism. This means unfair treatment because of race, in a big way across society.
There is also a story about fake jobs. Bally Bagayoko worked for a company called RATP. RATP runs buses and trains in Paris.
People are asking questions about this job. Some local politicians met Bagayoko before.
Another LFI mayor is also in a new problem. Mélenchon is angry about this too.
Mélenchon says the media are media supremacists. This means people who think their group is better than others.
He thinks the media attack LFI people because they are Black and left-wing.
Vocabulary10 words
- systemic racism
- unfair treatment of people because of their race; happens across a whole system
- media supremacists
- people who think their group is better and use media power unfairly
- LFI
- a left-wing political party in France
- RATP
- a company that runs buses and trains in Paris
- fake jobs
- jobs that are not real; used to give money without real work
- mayor
- the leader of a town or city
- controversy
- a big public argument about something
- politician
- a person who works in government
- party
- a group of people with the same political ideas
- scrutiny
- careful and close checking
Quiz
Answer key
1. A French politician 2. Systemic racism from the media 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a French _____. He leads a party called LFI.
Mélenchon spoke about two men in his party. Their names are Bally Bagayoko and Aly _____.
He said the _____ treat them badly. He said this is because they are Black.
Mélenchon called this systemic _____.
There is also a story about _____ jobs. Bally Bagayoko worked for a company called RATP.
RATP runs buses and _____ in Paris.
Another LFI _____ is also in a new problem.
Mélenchon says the media are media _____.