France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, Arcom, has referred remarks by Eric Zemmour to prosecutors, saying they may fall under laws against incitement to discrimination. The comments were made on LCI, BFM-TV and CNews on October 18, the day after a mobilisation on October 17, the regulator said on Tuesday, November 3.
Zemmour, a possible 2027 presidential candidate for the Reconquête! party, used the phrase “hordes of Maghrebi and African barbarians” on LCI. On BFM-TV, he referred to “Arab-Muslim scum”, while on CNews he called for the “remigration” of looters—a term describing the expulsion of people regarded as immigrants.
Arcom president Martin Ajdari said on France Inter that the repetition of the remarks across different channels, and their proximity in time, had justified referring the matter to prosecutors. He described such referrals as relatively rare, though not unprecedented.
Ajdari said the law does not allow Arcom to bar a particular guest in advance. He added that broadcasters are responsible for managing their programming and should challenge or qualify statements that go beyond legal limits. Individuals may also face personal criminal liability, he said.
Zemmour has previously been convicted several times, including for incitement to racial or religious hatred, incitement to discrimination, defamation, racist insult and denying a crime against humanity.
Sources: Le Monde.