Paris (AFP)

The song "The best in me" which will represent France at Eurovision 2020 "broke the ears" of the Minister of Culture Franck Riester because of his refrain in English, he said during a parliamentary hearing Tuesday.

"It is true that the refrain is in English, it broke my ears a little this morning on the radio," he said in response to a question from Aisne deputy Jacques Krabal, secretary general of the Parliamentary Assembly of la Francophonie, on the choice of this song.

"It is an independent choice of France Télévisions", explained the minister, evoking "a strategy which is to try to obtain the Grail" of the first place.

"But I sent the message of my amazement to a song whose chorus is written in English," continued Franck Riester, who was interviewed by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly about the audiovisual outside.

"Everyone must lead by example to ensure that France is carried with pride everywhere, all the time, even if we know that French content in a foreign language is also a way to promote France," he said. he adds.

The European song contest will take place in Rotterdam (Netherlands) on May 16 and it is Tom Leeb - son of humorist Michel Leeb - who will represent France with his song "The Best in me" released on Sunday.

© 2020 AFP