Paris (AFP)
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti on Tuesday described polemicist Eric Zemmour, a potential presidential candidate, as "racist, negationist", hoping that the French "will open their eyes" to him.
"Eric Zemmour is racist, negationist, condemned by the justice of our country for acts of incitement to racial hatred ... What more do you want?" Said the Minister of Justice invited to BFMTV.
Asked whether he felt that the polemicist was "a danger for France", Mr. Dupond-Moretti replied: "I hope that we will finally open our eyes".
"Mr. Zemmour is polemicist, talented, journalist, writer but what is his program?" Asked the Minister of Justice.
According to Mr. Dupond-Moretti, one of the reasons for "the infatuation" with regard to Zemmour is "the ultra mediatization from which he benefits".
The "freedom of tone" of the polemicist "can seduce", conceded Mr. Dupond-Moretti but, he insisted, "we must now go see what he says".
"No Pétain did not help the Jews" thus affirmed the Minister of Justice, alluding to statements by Eric Zemmour who defended the head of the Vichy regime.
Recent polls place Eric Zemmour ahead of the right-wing candidate in the first round, unless he was Xavier Bertrand, without allowing him access to the second round.
© 2021 AFP