Just when you were thinking that perhaps France “got it” (and the rest of Europe), it appears that the Hard Left — in the form of Socialists and Communists — are gaining ground on Nicolas Sarkozy, current President.

A powerful revival of France’s radical left, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a former socialist minister, and with a resurgent Communist party at its core, looks poised to be one of the most striking outcomes of next Sunday’s first round of voting in the country’s presidential election.

Mr Mélenchon, who has emerged from relative obscurity to become the most dynamic figure in the campaign, reinforced his dramatic rise at the weekend, drawing tens of thousands of red flag waving supporters from across the country to a rally at the Prado beach in the Mediterranean port of Marseilles on Saturday.

“We are writing a page in the history of the left. We are the renaissance of the left,” he declared to roars from the crowd, chanting “Resistance! Resistance!”

I’ve got a message for the French: if you want to cut off your very own heads and completely doom what was once known as French Culture, then by all means, vote for the Hardest of Leftists. You’ll soon find your country broke, your culture gone, riots in the streets, Shariah Law instituted and your precious Leftist Government broken and burned. “More Free Cheese, less work!” will make a nice populist bleat as well.

France, you get what you deserve and, now, you appear to deserve all of the above.

On the other hand, that doesn’t bode well, nationally, for November — does it?

BZ