December 5, 2021
21:52
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Far-right former French television commentator Eric Zemour held his first campaign today after officially announcing his candidacy for the presidential election in April a few days ago, the Associated Press reported.
The event took place at a conference center in the Paris suburb of Villepinte. The event was originally planned to take place in a concert hall in Paris, but for security reasons the venue had to be changed due to a protest against Zemur in the capital, organized by more than 50 formations, including far-left parties, unions and anti-racist groups.
His supporters, who attended the event, sang the national anthem of France, chanting “Zemur – President!” and “We will win” and waved the French flag.
Reporters from the AP reported that anti-racism activists had been beaten by participants in the event and forcibly removed from the hall. Clashes continued outside between activists and security officials.
Thousands of protesters marched today in Paris against the far right.
Far-left politician Jean-Luc Melanchon, leader of the Rebellious France party, also held a rally in the French capital today. Hundreds of supporters of Melanchon, who is running for president for the third time, took part in the event.
At his first campaign, Zemur promised to “win back” after decades of decline, according to Reuters.
“If I win, it will not be another change of power, but a conquest of the greatest country in the world,” he said.
Zemur announced that he was creating a new party called the Reconquest or Reconquista, a name reminiscent of the historical period known as the Reconquista, during which Christian forces pushed Muslim rulers out of the Iberian Peninsula.
Previously, the police arrested dozens of protesters against Zeru for and scattered demonstrators near the conference center where the event was held, BTA.
