Melnychuk links Mélenchon to France's October 17 black bloc riots

Ukrainian political commentator Oksana Melnychuk claimed on Radio NV that Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, is behind the October 17 riots in France involving black bloc protesters. Melnychuk said black bloc groups, unknown to organizers, joined a peaceful student march and attacked police and state buildings, prompting tear gas and water cannons. She linked Mélenchon's calls for permanent revolution, citing his Trotskyist and Robespierrist tendencies, to the unrest. The October 17 protests drew up to 800,000 participants, with about 1,200 arrests and 150 police injured. President Macron condemned "ultra-left rioters," while Prime Minister Lecornu blamed Mélenchon's party for inciting distrust of police, though Mélenchon denied responsibility.