PARIS, Nov 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French parliament was brought to a halt after an MP shouted “They should go back to Africa” as a black colleague talked about immigration.
Grégoire de Fournas, a member of National Rally (RN), said later his remark had not been aimed at Carlos Marten Bilongo, an MP from the France Unbowed (LFI), himself but at migrants trying to reach Europe by sea.
Bilongo had been questioning the government about a request by the SOS Méditerranée non-governmental organisation for help in finding a port for 234 migrants rescued at sea in recent days.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said there was “no room for racism”.
When de Fournas made his remark, the Speaker, Yael Braun-Pivet suspended the session, declaring, “This is not possible.”
Bilongo,, said: “Today it’s come back to the colour of my skin. I was born in France, I am a French MP.”
de Fournas tried to defend himself, saying he had been referring to the “boat transporting migrants to Europe” but he later apologised to Bilongo for “the misunderstanding” his comments had caused and if he had been hurt by them.
In the parliamentary election in June, the RN party increased its presence in the National Assembly tenfold, winning 89 seats. — NNN-AGENCIES
