French far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour promised on Sunday (5 December) a “reconquest” against decades of decline at his first political rally, as scuffles with anti-racism protesters broke out on its fringes.
“If I win this election, it won’t be another rotation of power but a reconquest of the greatest country in the world,” Zemmour said in a nearly hour-and-a-half-long speech.
He said he was calling his party “Reconquest”, a name that evokes the historic period known as the Reconquista, when Christian forces drove Muslim rulers from the Iberian peninsula.
With echoes of Donald Trump’s first campaign for US president, Zemmour promised to slash immigration and taxes to cheers from flag-waving supporters that organisers put at 15,000. A Reuters count put their number at around 10,000.
Zemmour supporters threw punches and chairs at several protesters wearing anti-racism T-shirts trying to stand on chairs as Zemmour gave his first speech since declaring his candidacy. Five-protestors were injured, their association said afterwards.
Fighting broke out when leftist infiltrators at an Eric Zemmour event north of Paris tried to stage a disruption. Zemmour is a right-wing candidate running to be president of France. pic.twitter.com/BuFSFAUob0
— Andy Ngô ?️? (@MrAndyNgo) December 6, 2021
Separately, as Zemmour moved through the crowd towards the stage to give his speech, a man lunged and grabbed him briefly by the neck before being tackled by security and later put in custody by police.
Although Zemmour went on to deliver his speech, his team said afterwards that he had been injured in the incident and a doctor had ordered a nine-day rest, Le Monde newspaper reported.
Before the rally started, police arrested several dozen anti-Zemmour protesters and chased away others near the giant convention hall north of Paris. Hundreds of protesters also marched in Paris.
Provocative statements
The former journalist and commentator ended weeks of speculation about a run for the presidency on Tuesday, declaring his candidacy in an online video.
Zemmour, who has been convicted for inciting racial hatred, is the main challenger to long-time far-right figure Marine Le Pen for a place in a second run-off round of next April’s election, most likely against President Emmanuel Macron.
Known for provocative statements against Islam and immigration, he has won support away from both Le Pen’s voter base but also the mainstream conservative right.
He said he aimed to bring immigration to zero if elected and cut taxes for the working class and companies, while abolishing inheritance tax on family businesses. He also said he would pull France out of the integrated military command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
He also said that France should not be subject of the decisions of European courts.
Notre existence en tant que peuple français n’est pas négociable. Notre survie en tant que nation française n’est pas soumise au bon vouloir des traités ou des juges européens. Reprenons notre destin en main !#ZemmourVillepinte #RECONQUETE pic.twitter.com/kq84OmKf47
— Eric Zemmour (@ZemmourEric) December 5, 2021
Zemmour courted disillusioned supporters of traditional conservatives, describing as his “friend” right-winger Eric Ciotti, who did far better than expected in the centre-right Les Republicains’ primary election for the conservatives’ candidate.
Je tends la main aux électeurs, aux cadres, aux sympathisants des Républicains dont beaucoup ont été représentés par mon ami Eric Ciotti.
Votre place est avec nous, parmi nous, à nos côtés dans ce combat pour la France.#ZemmourVillepinte #RECONQUETE pic.twitter.com/CBALtS9Rx9
— Eric Zemmour (@ZemmourEric) December 5, 2021
Ciotti ultimately lost out to the more moderate head of the greater Paris region, Valerie Pécresse, in a run-off vote on Saturday.
At a smaller political rally, hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon pushed back against the lurch to the right, telling supporters: “No, France is not all about the far-right, France is also about social security, public health.”
En 2022, chacun doit prendre sa part au combat. Il n'y a que les combats qu'on ne mène pas que l'on perd. Le monde nous regarde, il sait que si la chaîne du capitalisme craque en France, elle craquera partout ailleurs. Quoiqu'il arrive, ne baissez jamais la tête ! #MelenchonParis pic.twitter.com/uXXzwXqu9Z
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) December 5, 2021
Source: euractiv.com
