Paris (AFP)

Culture Minister Franck Riester plans to "force France Televisions to choose singers who sing in French" for Eurovision in the future, he said on France Info on Friday, irritated by the English refrain from Tom Leeb's song.

"It is not the responsibility of Tom Leeb, it is the responsibility in this case of France Televisions, it is besides the reason for which I currently work with my teams to see in which way one can oblige France Televisions to choose singers who sing in French, "said the politician.

Mr. Riester "thinks that in a competition like this one, we have to make sure that French is the language that is sung". "Let us wear the French language proud and high, defending French is not cheesy, it is the heart of what binds us", he insisted.

The minister had already said during a parliamentary hearing that the refrain in English of "The best in me", which will represent France at Eurovision 2020, "broke his ears".

The European song competition will take place in Rotterdam (Netherlands) on May 16. Tom Leeb is the son of humorist Michel Leeb.

© 2020 AFP