French MP Banned After Racist ‘Go Back To Africa’ Outburst In Parliament
Rightwing French lawmaker Gregoire de Fournas, who represents the National Rally (RN) party, has been hit with a 15-day suspension and pay cut after yelling “go back to Africa” during a parliamentary session.
While making a televised speech on immigration, Carlos Martens Bilongo, a member of the French National Assembly, De Fournas shouted, “Go back to Africa!” The racist outburst caused President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet to temporarily suspend the session.
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Bilongo later told reporters: “Today, some people once again put my skin color at the center of a debate. I’m born in France and I am a French lawmaker and I didn’t think that today I will be insulted [like this] at the National Assembly.”
De Fournas claimed he was referring to migrants and tweeted that the France Unbowed had “hijacked” his words in a “disgraceful manipulation.” He also wrote, “My answer concerned the boat and the migrants, obviously not my colleague”
The parliament voted to issue sanctions, which included the 15-day suspension and no salary for two months. In reaction, De Fournas stated, “I am totally innocent… but respectful of the institution, and I accept.”
Since 1958, it is only the second time in the history of France’s Fifth Republic to impose sanctions.
