As a Paris court decided on Monday, Zemmour should pay 100 daily rates of 100 euros. According to the verdict, the case concerned statements made by Zemmour about unaccompanied minor migrants. In autumn 2020, during a debate on the French broadcaster CNews, he described them as “thieves”, “murderers” and “rapists”. Zemmour called the verdict stupid and ideological in a statement. He announced that he would appeal.
The 63-year-old publicist has already been brought to court several times for his statements. In 2011, a court sentenced him to a fine of 2,000 euros in a similar case, as reported by the broadcaster France Info.
The right-wing populist has declared his candidacy for the French presidential elections in April. In recent polls, he has approval ratings of between 12 and 15 percent.