Eric Zemmour plays the card of rurality and identity! The far-right presidential candidate was in Cote d’Or on Saturday. He first met a forester from Morvan in the morning, before holding a meeting in Saulieu in front of 3,500 spectators, according to the organizers.
– Pierre Antoine Lefort
In particular, the candidate detailed his program for rural areas: check for 10,000 euros for French rural families on the arrival of a new childmoratorium on the construction of new shopping centers near cities, stopping all new wind farm projects, etc.
Identity, security, immigration
But it is also on the theme of immigration and insecurity that it was expected by the activists and sympathizers massed in the Jean Bertin-Foirail space : “the gendarmerie cannot be on the edge of every road. I want those who attack you to know that you now have the right to counterattack”, in particular declared Eric Zemmour, ovation by the public.
“The government wants to protect the suburbs, I want to protect our countryside (…). You want, and you’re right, the state to protect your money, rather than protecting immigrants with your money. You want the state protects your borders, rather than protecting illegal immigrants with your taxes“, continues the far-right candidate, castigating also “assistantship“.
Opponents and some clashes
About 200 opponents responded to the call of many unions and left-wing organizations, to denounce the arrival of the far-right candidate. Flags of the FSU, Solidaires, the CGT, but also of France Insoumise or the League of Human Rights, positioned a hundred meters from the room, under heavy police presence. Among the supporters of this counter-demonstration, also, the deputy mayor of Saulieu in charge of youth, sports and education, Jérôme Viguié. “The idea is to mark by my simple presence my disapproval of the comments he makes during his campaign, which I find divisive and anti-Republican. Being an elected representative of the Republic, it was important for me to be there. It’s the opposite of the values I hold, especially as an elected official. It’s a personal approach.”explains the 5th deputy.
Clashes took place on several occasions between activists and spectators. The CRS notably charged once and used a tear gas canister. According to the prefecture, contacted by AFP, one person was slightly injured and five arrested.