Édouard Philippe's Camp Criticized by the Left Over Comments on Immigration

The Horizons presidential candidate linked the October 17 looting to immigration. According to Maud Bregeon, he "said out loud what many French people are thinking quietly."

To save this article, log in or create a franceinfo account

Free of charge. No subscription.

Following Édouard Philippe's remarks linking the October 17 looting to immigration, the Horizons presidential candidate's camp has been accused by the left of flirting with far-right ideas, notably government spokesperson and Le Havre mayor supporter Maud Bregeon. "The government spokesperson echoed Jean-Marie Le Pen on a morning broadcast" and "the question of her resignation shouldn't even be an issue," green candidate Marine Tondelier reacted indignantly on Monday, November 2, on X. The same note was struck by Communist Ian Brossat, who argued that the founder of the far-right party "used" the exact same terms "every time he unleashed his racist rants."

At issue were comments made by Maud Bregeon during a morning appearance on franceinfo. "I believe Édouard Philippe said out loud what many French people are thinking quietly, namely that we have an integration problem that is real in France," stated the government spokesperson, at a time when her candidate faces competition from several rivals across the center and the right, from Gabriel Attal to David Lisnard, for the 2027 presidential race.

"Racialist Clientelism"

In an interview published by Le Point, the former Prime Minister deemed last week the "overrepresentation" of youths from immigrant backgrounds during the store looting on the weekend of October 17 as "glaring," citing writer Charles Péguy to urge people to "see what one sees." These remarks were reiterated in substance on Sunday evening during an interview on the TF1 8 p.m. news.

La France Insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused him of "not believing" what he says, but rather speaking that way "out of racialist clientelism." As the sole voice outside the left to sharply criticize Édouard Philippe's remarks, Jacques Chirac's former Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, penned a statement deploring what he termed a "political shift" signified by the Le Havre mayor's words. "'Seeing what one sees' means accepting that democracy is now held captive by screens" and amounts to "essentializing everyone's positions based on visible signs" such as "religion" or "skin color," the former Minister of Foreign Affairs lashed out. An indignation shared by Olivier Faure, who argued that Édouard Philippe is "drifting into the murky waters of racist prejudice."

You can now prioritize the display of franceinfo articles in Google search results. How does it work?

video 2027: Are the streets replacing the ballot box?

2027: Are the streets replacing the ballot box?

audio High school mobilization, fuel prices, presidential election... The "8:30 franceinfo" with Maud Bregeon

High school mobilization, fuel prices, presidential election... The "8:30 franceinfo" with Maud Bregeon

Jean-Luc Mélenchon accuses Édouard Philippe of "racist slander" after a TF1 interview, and announces cancellation of his own appearance on the channel

Jean-Luc Mélenchon accuses Édouard Philippe of "racist slander" after a TF1 interview, and announces cancellation of his own appearance on the channel

audio: Editorial Is the presidential election being played out in the streets?

Is the presidential election being played out in the streets?

A mobile gendarme injured by a Molotov cocktail in Paris at the end of the October 31 demonstration

A mobile gendarme injured by a Molotov cocktail in Paris at the end of the October 31 demonstration

Shorts

Fuel prices finally falling, but not everywhere video

Fuel prices finally falling, but not everywhere

Crans-Montana: victims' grief in the face of unanswered questions 1:15 video 1 minute 15

Crans-Montana: victims' grief in the face of unanswered questions

A mother assaults a kindergarten director and a teacher 1:23 video 1 minute 23

A mother assaults a kindergarten director and a teacher

MIDTERMS: what are these elections in the United States? 2:13 video 2 minutes 13

MIDTERMS: what are these elections in the United States?

"High school and university students have no hope of being heard by the authorities": Tristan Garcia, philosopher 1:01 video 1 minute 1

"High school and university students have no hope of being heard by the authorities": Tristan Garcia, philosopher

Can Donald Trump lose the Republican stronghold of Texas? 2:50 video 2 minutes 50

Can Donald Trump lose the Republican stronghold of Texas?

Private jet crash in Florida: striking images of the crater 0:30 video 30 seconds

Private jet crash in Florida: striking images of the crater

"A primary cannot stretch from Raphaël Glucksmann's left to those who would reach out to Éric Ciotti" Maud Bregeon 1:22 video 1 minute 22

"A primary cannot stretch from Raphaël Glucksmann's left to those who would reach out to Éric Ciotti" Maud Bregeon

"The little martyr of the A10", the trial 40 years later 1:15 video 1 minute 15

"The little martyr of the A10", the trial 40 years later

In China, AI is replacing actors in mini-series 2:40 video 2 minutes 40

In China, AI is replacing actors in mini-series

What impact on the baccalaureate for high school students? 2:39 video 2 minutes 39

What impact on the baccalaureate for high school students?

The French team wins its first medal at the Youth Olympic Games 0:47 video 47 seconds

The French team wins its first medal at the Youth Olympic Games

Cruel disappointment for Quentin Le Nabour, already forced to abandon his 1st Route du Rhum 0:17 video 17 seconds

Cruel disappointment for Quentin Le Nabour, already forced to abandon his 1st Route du Rhum

Collision at sea during the Route du Rhum 1:37 video 1 minute 37

Collision at sea during the Route du Rhum

3,000 junior doctors arrive in medical practices 2:00 video 2 minutes

3,000 junior doctors arrive in medical practices

"A demonstration must be seen," says Sophie Binet, CGT general secretary, demanding a downtown Paris route 1:01 video 1 minute 1

"A demonstration must be seen," says Sophie Binet, CGT general secretary, demanding a downtown Paris route

Martyr of the A10: the trial opens 40 years later 1:20 video 1 minute 20

Martyr of the A10: the trial opens 40 years later

Florida, plane crash in the middle of the city 2:08 video 2 minutes 8

Florida, plane crash in the middle of the city

"We are going to crash into the ground": final transmissions before the Florida jet crash 1:18 video 1 minute 18

"We are going to crash into the ground": final transmissions before the Florida jet crash

These high school students explain why they consistently blockade their school after returning from break 0:32 video 32 seconds

These high school students explain why they consistently blockade their school after returning from break

Protests and high school blockades: what to expect this week? 1:02 video 1 minute 2

Protests and high school blockades: what to expect this week?

Charles III under torrential rain 0:56 video 56 seconds

Charles III under torrential rain

2027: Are the streets replacing the ballot box? 1:50 video 1 minute 50

2027: Are the streets replacing the ballot box?

Wegovy, the anti-obesity medication, now available in pill form 1:14 video 1 minute 14

Wegovy, the anti-obesity medication, now available in pill form

"I am so sad"... Violette Dorange's distress following collision with another competitor 0:59 video 59 seconds

"I am so sad"... Violette Dorange's distress following collision with another competitor

Guests who steal from hotels and restaurants 2:10 video 2 minutes 10

Guests who steal from hotels and restaurants

"If I don't believe in it, I certainly won't succeed," says Arthur Fils 1:03 video 1 minute 3

"If I don't believe in it, I certainly won't succeed," says Arthur Fils

Nine dead in Florida jet crash 0:59 video 59 seconds

Nine dead in Florida jet crash

Arson, suspect known to authorities... What we know about the attack on a firefighter near Marseille 1:13 video 1 minute 13

Arson, suspect known to authorities... What we know about the attack on a firefighter near Marseille

They rescued a woman from the flames 1:53 video 1 minute 53

They rescued a woman from the flames