How the Candidates for the Presidency of France Opened Their European Campaigns by Attacking Islam?

In a recent unfolding of political events, the French political landscape has been marked by the campaign launches of Eric Zemmour, a former presidential candidate, and Marion Marechal, a figure associated with the far-right and the granddaughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Both are aligned with the Reconquest party, which Zemmour founded. Observers from L’Obs magazine and Liberation newspaper have noted that these candidates are attempting to gain traction in public opinion polls by disseminating a discourse that has been characterized as antagonistic, particularly towards foreigners and Muslims.

This move is seen as a strategic effort to surpass the pivotal 5% mark in the upcoming European elections slated for June.

Trump Style

The narrative was further expanded upon in a piece by Lucas Burel for L’Obs magazine, which highlighted a speech delivered by Guillaume Peltier, the vice-president of the Reconquest party.

The event took place at the Palais des Sports in Paris, where Peltier’s rhetoric was described as intensifying anti-Islamic sentiments to galvanize support.

His speech posed provocative questions about the future cultural landscape of Europe and France, touching on themes of religious visibility, cultural replacement, and national identity.

Peltier’s discourse also briefly veered into criticism of what he termed “climate propaganda,” which he claims dictates personal choices and behaviors.

He then pivoted back to a critique of Islam, suggesting a future where Islamic texts might overshadow traditional French literature and cultural icons, and questioning the place of Turkish influence in France.

He also expressed support for certain media outlets and political figures who align with his views.

Liberation’s coverage of the same speech drew parallels between Pelletier’s approach and the rhetorical style of former U.S. President Donald Trump, noting a blend of aggressive language and nationalistic fervor.

Peltier’s address to the “historic people of France” invoked the notion of an “Islamic replacement” as a threat more dire than economic or environmental concerns, urging the public to consider the cultural and demographic shifts occurring in the country.

In his speech, Peltier emphasized the importance of a shared historical narrative for all children in France, regardless of religious background, citing figures and landmarks that embody the nation’s heritage. He argued for a collective identity rooted in historical figures like Joan of Arc and Andre Malraux, and places like Versailles.

The report also shed light on the audience at the event, which included European Parliament members, suggesting their presence lent a degree of legitimacy to the proceedings. 

It highlighted the attendance of Ladislav Ilcic, a Croatian member of the European Parliament, who was noted for his applause despite a language barrier preventing him from understanding the speeches.

The overarching aim of Zemmour’s party, as interpreted by the magazine, is to avert another setback in the upcoming elections, following previous electoral disappointments in the spring of 2022.

This is set against the backdrop of the National Rally party’s resilience, with its candidate, Jordan Bardella, showing significant leads in polls.

Zemmour himself, described as the architect of this political venture, made a grand entrance at the festival an hour after its commencement.

His arrival was marked by a theatrical display, complete with lighting and music, as he took to the stage to extol the virtues of Europe’s intellectual and historical luminaries, such as Blaise Pascal, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and General Charles de Gaulle, framing them as the cornerstones of European civilization.

Political Theater

In a display of political theater, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Eric Zemmour took the stage.

The crowd was greeted with a cinematic score that swelled as a montage played on the large screen, depicting Zemmour in various candid moments: scoring a point in a friendly game of tennis, playfully evading a child’s grasp, enjoying a moment of leisure with an ice cream, and finally, relaxing in a public bath.

The applause hailed when Zemmour began to speak of Europe’s contributions to the world, invoking the classical compositions of Mozart as a symbol of European culture preferred by children over contemporary genres like rap music, Brazilian lambada, or the works of Malian artist Aya Nakamura.

Steering clear of the militaristic rhetoric that characterized the 2022 presidential elections, Zemmour addressed the supporters of the Republican and National Rally parties with a message of unity, declaring, “You can accuse us of whatever you want, but we love you.”

Marion Marechal, as reported by Liberation, initiated a provocative video montage that juxtaposed images of the Kouachi brothers, tried for terrorism, with Muslims in prayer, eliciting boos from the audience. The video then transitioned to a display of European cultural artifacts.

At the conclusion of the party’s campaign launch at Paris’s Palais des Congres, Zemmour and Marechal were seen acknowledging their supporters.

Marechal, the granddaughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, articulated a historical rejection of Islam, cautioning Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan with a reminder of Europe’s long and storied past, referencing the battles of Poitiers, Lepanto, and the Siege of Vienna as symbols of European resilience and defiance against conquest and subjugation.

Nicolas Bay, the party’s sole Member of the European Parliament, presented a more solemn and composed demeanor than in previous appearances.

Yet, his speech did not shy away from controversy as he criticized figures such as the former Secretary General of the National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the LGBT community, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom he likened to an executioner for Europe — a bureaucratic behemoth intent on crushing national identities and the will of the people.

Nicola Procaccini, a member of the European Parliament representing the Fratelli d’Italia party and co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists, expressed nostalgia for the era of the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

He lamented the lost unity of European nations, which, with the notable exception of France, had once banded together against the Ottoman Empire to protect Venetian commerce. In a defiant tone, he criticized those who caution against offending Muslims, signaling a staunch stance on cultural preservation.