At the call of the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, and the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, a “great civic march” against anti-Semitism will take place on Sunday in Paris. An event which should signal general mobilization in the face of the resurgence of anti-Semitic acts in France but which continues to unleash passions due to the criticized participation of the National Rally and the boycott of La France insoumise.
“It’s an important moment, a good initiative”
“Like many of my colleagues, I will be there. It’s an important moment, it’s a good initiative […] we are in a country which has been experiencing a very sharp increase in the number of anti-Semitic acts for several weeks and it is important to emphasize that anti-Semitism is not the Republic”, announced Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Labor, Le Plein employment and integration, guest of La Grande interview Europe 1-CNews Friday.
More than 1,000 anti-Semitic acts in France in one month
1,040 anti-Semitic acts have been committed in France in one month since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. “The more of us there are [dimanche], the better. This is not a political party march, it is a civic march. It’s important that the French can say anti-Semitism is not the Republic. And when we attack a French person because he is Jewish, we attack the Republic,” he continued.
Two former presidents of the Republic, François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy will be in the ranks of the procession on Sunday. What about Emmanuel Macron? At the microphone of Romain Desarbres, Olivier Dussopt casts doubt on whether or not the Head of State will participate in the march. “He spoke out systematically against anti-Semitism, he did not comment on this march which is taken at the initiative of the President of the Senate and the President of the Assembly […] he is extremely mobilized so that the French who are in Gaza can be evacuated and so that our hostages can be located and freed, he is mobilized on peace initiatives,” he commented.
“I will not demonstrate arm in arm with the National Front”
Socialists, communists and ecologists also announced their participation in the march, but without mixing with the far right. “I consider that the National Rally remains a far-right party. I will not demonstrate arm in arm with the National Front. This demonstration on Sunday is a civic initiative and I believe that the President of the Assembly and the President of the Senate will ensure that there is no clawback,” he concluded.