AFP
News from the NOS•
A French parliamentarian was accused of racism over a remark made aloud in parliament. During a speech by black parliamentarian Carlos Martens Bilongo on migration, Grégoire de Fournas of the right-wing populist Rassemblement National shouted: “Let them go back to Africa!”.
However, the pronunciation can also be interpreted as “Let him go back to Africa”, because in French the pronouns “he” and “they” are pronounced the same way. In any case, critics say the claim is racist.
The president of the National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, asked the caller to identify himself. That turned out to be De Fournas. As emotions were high in parliament, the debate was suspended.
‘Misunderstood’
De Fournas said in a response that he was misunderstood and that his statement was not directed against Bilongo, but against the boatmen trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. But the opponents of De Fournas do not accept this explanation.
After he answered bilongo. “Today I was sent away because of the color of my skin. I was born in France, I am a French deputy,” said the MP from the left-wing party La France Insoumise.
The Speaker of Parliament has now launched an investigation into De Fournas’s statement. The right-wing parliamentarian risks a temporary suspension.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne responded by saying that racism has no place in a democracy. You are asking for action to be taken against the French deputy.
