French Interior Minister Considers Sanctions for Dordogne Mayor’s Antisemitic Remarks

Laurent Nuñez, the French Interior Minister, is contemplating sanctions against Bernard Bazinet, the mayor of Augignac in Dordogne, following antisemitic comments Bazinet made in a Facebook post about Israel's participation in Eurovision. Bazinet wrote, "Yes to the boycott! France is too 'youpine' to boycott!" which led to widespread condemnation. The Interior Ministry has declared that Bazinet lacks the moral authority to continue as mayor, emphasizing the commitment to uphold republican values and combat hate speech.

Bazinet has been summoned by the prefect of Dordogne to discuss the seriousness of his remarks and their repercussions. Legally, he is facing action for public insult with a racist character and has already been fined 500 euros. Additionally, Bazinet’s political party, the Socialist Party, has expelled him, condemning antisemitism as an abhorrent evil intolerable in any form.

The mayor expressed regret, claiming his words emerged from anger over media coverage on Palestine and that he did not intend antisemitic implications. Nonetheless, the Interior Ministry underscored elected officials’ responsibilities to prevent hate speech and announced plans to improve training and awareness among political leaders to avoid such incidents.

This case highlights ongoing challenges surrounding antisemitism within local French politics and demonstrates the state’s proactive stance to sanction elected representatives who engage in hate speech, reaffirming France's republican values and zero tolerance for racism and antisemitism.