the court of appeal will not render its decision until after the presidential election

He is appearing on appeal for a challenge to a crime against humanity after having argued in 2019 that Marshal Philippe Pétain had “Safe” French Jews. Eric Zemmour was tried by the Paris Court of Appeal on Thursday January 20. She rejected the request to postpone the trial of the far-right presidential candidate.

His lawyer, Olivier Pardo, who had requested the dismissal of the trial, immediately left the courtroom, denouncing a decision “iniquitous”. “Under these conditions, I have decided that I am not in a condition to ensure the defense” of Eric Zemmour, he underlined.

The president of the court of appeal specified that the decision of his court would not be given until after the presidential election on 10th and 24th April next. The hearing began without the defendant or his lawyer.

The general prosecutor’s office asked to reverse the judgment of first instance, which had acquitted Eric Zemmour tried for contesting a crime against humanity and asked for his conviction. He demanded a sentence of 100 day-fines at 100 euros, ie a fine of 10,000 euros which can be transformed into imprisonment in the event of non-payment.

This new judicial appointment came three days after the conviction of Eric Zemmour for incitement to hatred by the Paris court, for his release on unaccompanied migrant minors. He immediately appealed.