After leaving doubt for months on his participation in the French presidential election, the controversial far-right polemicist Eric Zemmour formalized his candidacy Tuesday, November 30 in a video posted on social networks. 

After this announcement, the 63-year-old former Figaro, RTL and CNews columnist will hold his first campaign meeting Sunday, December 5, at the Zénith in Paris.

The CGT, Solidaires and anti-fascist activists have already promised a demonstration to "silence Zemmour" at 1 pm in the capital.

Convicted twice for provoking racial hatred, Éric Zemmour declared himself as the polls fell, giving him around 14% to 15% of voting intentions in the first round, behind outgoing President Emmanuel Macron (25% ) and the RN candidate Marine Le Pen (between 19% and 20%).

The period is also turbulent for his camp, where some criticize an organizational deficit.

Parasit Congress LR

By declaring himself on Tuesday, the polemicist, who aims to bring together right-wing and far-right voters, parasitizes the investiture process underway among the LRs who decide between their five contenders in congress from Wednesday to Saturday.

They must debate one last time on television on Tuesday evening, just after the 8 p.m. news.

He also embarrasses his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen (RN), who lamented Tuesday on Sud Radio that he "disperses voices useful for the recovery of the country".

"It does nothing," she said, criticizing in particular the "brutality" of her measures on immigration or her vision of women.

She considers that he has not "transformed" into a candidate and hopes that he "refocuses" it.

The supporters of Zemmour pride themselves on having already weighed on the themes of the campaign, particularly on the fight against immigration, the number 1 subject of the polemicist, associated with his criticisms of Islam, a "civilization" that he judge "incompatible with the principles of France".

Follower of the conspiracy theory of the "great replacement" of the European population by non-European immigrants, its most controversial measure aims to force people to bear a first name of French origin.

Eric Zemmour also makes former US President Donald Trump an inspiration, even if he does not enjoy the support of a major party.

The controversies multiplied during his pre-campaign.

Especially when Eric Zemmour pointed a gun at journalists during a visit to a security fair, or while going in front of the Bataclan, on the day of commemoration of the attacks of November 13, to accuse former President François Hollande of not to have "protected the French".

The polemicist also accused of sexual assault according to several testimonies of women collected by Mediapart.

But no complaint has been brought against him.

The constitution of a network on the ground will be one of its many challenges, if only to obtain the 500 sponsorships of elected officials necessary for a presidential candidacy.

His camp ensures to rely on 250 to 300 sponsorship pledges.

With AFP

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR