"Afrika-ro doraga" French National Assembly member makes racist remark to Black colleague

French Third-Person Singular and Plural Pronunciations Are Identical, Causing Ambiguity in Reference
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne Criticizes, "There Is No Place for Racism in Our Democracy"

French National Assembly. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A member of the French National Assembly is facing backlash for making a racist remark telling a fellow Black lawmaker to "go back to Africa."

On the 3rd (local time), according to French BFM TV and others, Carlos Martine Billongo, a member of the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), argued in the National Assembly that the government should rescue migrants drifting in the Mediterranean. During the session, someone shouted, "They (or he) should go back to Africa."

Billongo was born in Villiers-le-Bel near Paris, but his parents are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola.

Upon hearing the remark, Yael Brun-Pivet, the Speaker of the National Assembly, immediately suspended the meeting and sought to identify the speaker. It was eventually identified as Gr?goire de Fournas, a member of the far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen.

Following this, criticism of de Fournas's remark poured in. Mathilde Panot, leader of LFI, called for the suspension of de Fournas's membership, saying, "The far-right revealed its true colors today." The ruling Renaissance party announced it would not attend any meetings until de Fournas faced severe disciplinary action. Prime Minister ?lisabeth Borne stated, "There is no place for racism in our democracy," adding, "Of course, the parliament must impose sanctions."

As criticism intensified, de Fournas explained in an interview with BFM TV that his remark was directed at illegal migrant boats in the Mediterranean, not at Billongo personally. He also accused LFI of distorting his true intentions.

Because the French third-person singular (il) and third-person plural (ils) are pronounced the same, there is some uncertainty about exactly whom de Fournas was referring to. However, the media and parliament have pointed out that the remark was aimed at Billongo. Regardless of whom de Fournas intended, local media criticized that making a racist remark in the National Assembly was wrong.

Billongo said, "I am a French National Assembly member born in France," adding, "I did not expect to be insulted in the National Assembly today." He continued, "Today, I was referred to by my skin color, but I am a representative of the people, and being insulted is very shameful."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.