“Go back to Africa.” The racist phrase was pronounced by a far-right deputy in the French National Assembly, while a black deputy questioned the government about “illegal immigration”, causing the suspension of the session.
The deputy of France Insubmissa (LFI, radical left), Carlos Martens Bilongo, of Congolese origin, spoke in the Chamber about the “drama of illegal immigration”, when the deputy of the National Union (RN, extreme right), Grégoire de Fournas, launched the phrase.
After a few minutes of confusion, the president of the Assembly ended the session, with several interventions still scheduled, “given the seriousness of the facts” and the “legitimate emotion” of the Assembly. Such interruptions are extremely rare.
The RN group alleges that the deputy was referring to a “ship” of migrants mentioned in the question, and “in no case” to Martens Bilongo.
“We are facing a manipulation that seeks to distort my observations to attribute disgusting comments to me in relation to a fellow French deputy of the Nation who has the same legitimacy as me in these seats,” Grégoire de Fournas defended before the press. .
Carlos Martens Bilongo said he was “very sad.”
“Racism has no place in our democracy,” reacted Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, indicating that “naturally,” the National Assembly “will have to adopt sanctions.”
The highest body of the Assembly will meet on Friday to decide on the follow-up.
Source: TSF
