Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended those in his country who wish to preserve their unique cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identity, telling the political talkshow “C à vous” that ‘the great replacement theory’ – which argues that mass migration is an intentional attempt at demographic shift – is “not a far right idea.”
While Sarkozy says he disagrees with the contention itself, he defended it from being labelled “extremist,” and criticized the French political elite who argue that populist politician Éric Zemmour or Marine Le Pen’s National Rally political party are not a part of the Republic’s political mainstream.
“I do not understand this stupid argument that the [National Rally] does not belong to the Republican Arc,” Sarkozy said, before adding that Zemmour also belongs to the mainstream Republican political right.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy: "I disagree with the great replacement theory but it’s not a far-right idea" https://t.co/YAiOVsT9iZ https://t.co/co4tns3ZuA
— Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry (@pegobry_en) September 7, 2023
National Rally has achieved a degree of political success in France. The party’s advocacy for non-interventionist foreign policy, cuts to legal immigration, stricter controls on illegal immigration, trade protectionism, and anti-crime measures has drawn significant support among the French electorate – resulting in its presidential candidates reaching the second round of the 2002, 2017, and 2022 presidential elections .
Founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1972 as the National Front with the purpose of unifying the French nationalist movement – the National Rally is currently the largest opposition party in France’s National Assembly.