Women are less safe in France and elsewhere. Figures from the Ministry of the Interior confirm that in the Paris region, more than 60 percent of sexual harassment on public transport is committed by people with immigrant backgrounds, says Marie.
I’m tired of being talked to and followed and harassed on the street or when she takes the subway.
Marie Durand is one of the founders of “Les Femmes avec Zemmour,” an organization that supports Eric Zemmour.
On Sunday, the far-right politician held his first campaign rally after officially declaring himself a presidential candidate. Somewhere, between 11,000 and 15,000 people gathered in a trade fair hall on the outskirts of Paris. It’s largely over.
An electoral rally that ended with violence, riots and battles. The main character himself was strangled by someone who attended the meeting, apparently not agreeing with the policy of the populist right. Zemmour was also shot in the arm in the chaos. And on Monday, the politician reported what happened.
The women from SOS Racism, who had peacefully demonstrated in front of the media, were at the back of the hall Young men from the supporters of Zammour attacked him. Chairs flew in the air. News channels repeatedly show shocking images of a young man beating up a young woman from SOS Racism.
– I hate him
We’re with Marie in the neighborhood when she sticks up little Eric Zemmour posters. Marie applies glue to mailboxes, trees, and lampposts. In some places, you see the remnants of the stickers, which Mary pasted before. Zemour is controversial, and many are tearing up the images as soon as they appear.
A man of immigrant background hisses past us: – I hate him.
Neighbor: The posters Mary hung on were often torn down again. But she didn’t give up and stuck Eric Zemmour’s face back into the neighborhood. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
Zemmour calls both racism and misogyny. It is believed that women have different intelligence than men. The 63-year-old has been convicted several times for racist remarks and hate speech.
– Of course our opponents will accuse him of racism and misogyny, but I don’t think this is true at all. Defends France and the French. He wants the money earned in France to stay in France.
– But is he guilty of racism?
– Yes, but only the times when he did not resume. In fact, he was acquitted every time he filed an appeal.
No favourite: Zemmour mostly blames immigrants in France. These two give a clear message that he’s not their favourite. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
The 24-year-old engineer lives in a dormitory in the bourgeois neighborhood of Paris. On the small street, the houses are stately, with wrought-iron balconies and high windows. The room is basic but only five minutes away from work.
We are shown several posters of Zemmour. On Friday, he revealed his campaign slogan. All stickers are in a sober deep blue, with Zemmour looking fierce right at you.
The motto “Impossible is not French.” It says it’s an emblem inspired by Napoleon.
politically incorrect
For several years, Eric Zemmour attracted millions to the television screen by provoking and presenting politically incorrect opinions. Earlier this year, he was taken off screen on CNews, because the country’s media oversight believed he was campaigning to become president.
– He wants us to feel safe in France. I think he has many reasonable suggestions. Which a few decades ago was completely normal, but today is seen as quite extreme.
Zemmour was born in France to Berber-Jewish parents from Algeria. For many years he was a political journalist for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro. He applied several times to the elite school ENA, which was completed by many politicians and senior bureaucrats. The horn never entered the eye of the needle.
Youth and Women: Although Eric Zemmour described racism and misogyny, there was a strong turnout of young people and women at the public meeting on Sunday. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
Earlier this winter, it took second place in opinion polls after President Emmanuel Macron. Now it has been overtaken by Marine Le Pen of the right-wing and conservative populist National Rally party. Translator means national assembly. Presidential elections are held in April, usually in two rounds. In the last round with two candidates against each other.
During Sunday’s public meeting, he presented himself as the man who could save France from the elite and from the media.
Isn’t he too radical to become president?
– Well, I think he has succeeded in increasing the opinion polls in recent months, because the French have been waiting for this kind of clear talk. I think he’s brave, honest, straightforward and that’s why he’s popular.
Eric Zemmour is often called France’s answer to Donald Trump, because it attracts massive media attention and because it uses many of the same methods. He talks about France on the verge of collapse. That immigrants, preferably Muslims, are about to take over the country. France should be for the French, and luxury goods should be reserved for those with French citizenship.
Trump Similarity: Marie admits that Zemmour has as many tactics and policies as Donald Trump, but believes that French politics are different from the United States and it is impossible to be Trump in France. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
– We are in France, not in the United States. That’s how it is. Of course there are some similarities, but he is not a version of Donald Trump. It is impossible for Trump to be in France.
A new poll soon will show if Zemmour goes against his message after declaring himself a presidential candidate.
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