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Denver – French far-right essayist and political journalist Eric Zemmour has promised to ban non-French first names like Mohammed, saying that Arab first names and other aspects of Arab culture are making French society less French.
Zemmour has been rumored to be preparing to announce his candidacy for France’s upcoming presidential elections in 2022. His latest book, “La France n’a pas encore dit son dernier mot” (France has not yet said its last word), is said to be a campaign book in which the far-right commentator lays out his vision for reclaiming France’s lost imperial prestige.
Zemmour made his latest anti-Muslim remarks while appearing on Saturday on the television segment “We are Live” to discuss the end of his time as a pundit for CNEWS, a popular French television channel. During the segment, Zemmour continued to discuss a possible presidential run for the 2022 election.
He claimed that many people “are pushing me to be a candidate, as they think that it is I who has the good ideas for France.” Zemmour did not confirm his candidacy, however, saying: “When I want to be a candidate, I will say that I am a candidate. When I decide, I will say it.”
But when asked what policies he would implement if elected, the far-right commentator laid out his unmistakably anti-Islam platform. He said one of the first policies he would implement upon being elected president is to ban the first name “Mohammed,” because “it is not a French name.”
He added his “good ideas” for France include banning Muslim names, and asking Muslims to “limit their religion to faith and practice” at the individual level.
A lover of controversy
Zemmour, who started his career as a political reporter, became increasingly known for his xenophobic opinions during television appearances. His comments on Islam and ethnic minorities have constantly landed him in legal trouble.
In February 2019, a French court found Zemmour guilty of “inciting racial hatred,” and ordered him to pay thousands of euros in fines.
Since being appointed in 2019 as a political pundit for French television channel CNews, Zemmour has continued to take delight in sparking controversy with his far-right commentary on “Facing the Info,” the segment he co-hosted with journalist Christine Kelly.
With increased rumors around Zemmour’s presidential ambitions, France’s audiovisual regulating body has decided to “limit” the pundit’s air time, arguing that he should not be using his unlimited television appearances to campaign.
The decision led CNEWS to end its contract with Zemmour, and the far-right commentator has since said he “understood that it was the only reasonable solution. When we can not resist, we must break and resist elsewhere.”
