“Well, let’s see”, as Éric Zemmour would say. It is doubtful that he did not hear correctly. The scene still lasted about twelve seconds, that’s a long time. Anyway, it is he who is at the origin of it: he had just evoked a series of miscellaneous facts and launched that “The state should be ashamed!”. It’s hard to play Pontius Pilate.
Even if Éric Zemmour is a specialist: remember, he had nothing to do with it when far-right activists beat up non-violent demonstrators during his meeting in Villepinte, or when one of his supporters a Nazi salute in front of the camera during a public meeting in Toulon. Since the start of his campaign, he has heated his public to white and discards in case of incidents.
Already under the Third Republic, insults flew low in the Chamber and elected officials challenged each other to a duel, sword in hand. François Hollande and especially Nicolas Sarkozy have also been targeted. But over the past five years, the situation has worsened. Anti-Macron hatred has sparked hysteria in places that threatens the very foundations of our democracy.
During the movement of “yellow vests”, we saw effigies of the president hanged, he himself was chased in Puy-en-Velay, elected officials were attacked, a ministry invaded, offices vandalized. And many elected officials have excused and even legitimized this violence. We remember the rebellious deputy François Ruffin, who claimed to be the spokesperson for the “yellow vests”, coming to proclaim in front of the Elysée that the president “will end up like Kennedy” and that’“He must go”.
Much of the political world condemned the Trocadero incident. The majority of course, but also Valérie Pécresse. Even Marine Le Pen denounced a “excess”. It must be said that the far-right candidate was heckled this weekend in Guadeloupe and Emmanuel Macron very clearly condemned the incident, explaining that all forms of violence in politics must be banned, whatever the nature. author and target.
Two years ago, he had also called Éric Zemmour, verbally attacked in the street, to comfort him. Last June, on the other hand, when the head of state was slapped during a trip, Zemmour declared: “He only gets what he deserves”. Violence is a growing threat to our tired democracies. It is also a challenge which makes it possible to distinguish those who are capable of embodying the national unity required by the office of President of the Republic, and those who are not up to this office.