The candidate of La France insoumise and the polemicist debated this Thursday, September 23 on the set of BFMTV.
Among the major themes mentioned: immigration, social divide and vision of French society.
Passes of arms exchanged in a tense climate.
The polemicist leaves doubt on his possible candidacy for the presidential election, explaining in the last minutes that he "would choose [his] moment to decide".
A long-awaited duel ... and tense.
Eric Zemmour faced Jean-Luc Mélenchon this Thursday evening.
The two opponents faced each other face-to-face on the set of BFMTV.
Responding to journalists Maxime Switek and Aurélie Casse, they were invited to speak about two major questions: "Is France in danger" and "How to reduce the social divide?
".
A debate "claimed" by Eric Zemmour and a "confrontation and a moment of responsibility" for the candidate of rebellious France.
"You are a danger in my eyes, a danger for our country", launched the latter very quickly.
The response was not long in coming.
"For two centuries in your camp we have not debated, we beheaded", replies the polemicist to the address of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
After ten rather agitated minutes, the two presenters officially launch the first part of the debate.
From Maxime Switek's first question, the polemicist refuses to answer.
“If you don't mind, I won't answer your question.
(...) I am here to debate with Jean-Luc Mélenchon ”, responds tit for tat Eric Zemmour.
"You see there is more disagreeable than me", ironically then the candidate of rebellious France.
Weapon passes on immigration
Affirmations against affirmations, migration and security issues, as well as lyrical flights on the history of France, were the first highlights of the debate.
Asked about immigration, the essayist considered that "Islam is completely at odds with France", "incompatible" even with the country and its motto "liberty, equality, fraternity".
A "vision of Islam" which "made smile", Jean-Luc Mélenchon, estimating that his interlocutor "knew nothing about it".
A series of arms passes that stretched in length during the first hour.
"A country where women are demeaned, where there is the death penalty, where homosexuals are punished ...", following this enumeration ", the candidate declared that" Zemmouristan, that exists "and" that s 'calls Saudi Arabia'.
Social divide and ecology
The two politicians also spoke on the country's social divide and ecology.
In this sense, Jean-Luc Mélenchon said he was "in favor of blocking a certain number of basic necessities" in the face of Eric Zemmour in favor of a reduction in social benefits.
"We are the world record holders," he said.
The two political opponents also clashed over the issue of nuclear power and renewable energies.
Eric Zemmour wishing to express "all the harm he thinks of wind turbines" while specifying previously "that to abandon nuclear power is to give up our national sovereignty".
His opponent was more nuanced, explaining that "there is no question of giving up, it is a question of leaving nuclear power".
At the end of this tense debate, Eric Zemmour did not comment on his presidential ambitions.
"I will choose my moment to decide," he simply replied.
Still, the shadow of an official candidacy - and its announcement - hovers more than ever seven months before the presidential election.
Candidate
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Eric Zemmour
Candidacy
Presidential election