It is a displacement, as he multiplies them in recent weeks, which has not gone unnoticed.
Invited for a public conference, polemicist Eric Zemmour, officially on tour to promote his book, gave a speech on the port of Ajaccio in front of 200 people, according to France 3 Corse.
But before he even spoke, tensions, and even scuffles with exchanges of blows, erupted between supporters of the former journalist and several of his opponents.
According to LCI, a truck broadcasting an anti-Zemmour soundtrack had paraded just before these clashes.
The police intervene
The police had to intervene in numbers to separate the two camps.
A crowd had gathered to express its opposition to "racism, xenophobia and homophobia" in Corsica, according to the BFMTV teams present on the spot.
The images show strong tensions, with the beginnings of fights, and the police who continued, this Saturday afternoon, to control access to the bookstore where the polemicist was to sign his book.
Altercation between supporters and opponents of Éric Zemmour on the port of Ajaccio.
The CRS intervened.
pic.twitter.com/pwoGQPaeiJ
- France 3 Corse (@FTViaStella) October 9, 2021
A meeting with readers that he had to reach on foot from the port for a stroll… and that he finally had to rally by car.
This is one of the first times that opponents - “separatists and left-wing activists,” according to France 3 - have come forward during one of its public appearances.
"From the anti-fascist theater"
After having held his speech as if nothing had happened, Eric Zemmour reacted during a press point.
“I don't create any tension.
There are people who are intolerant and sectarian.
All of this is theater.
The party is not spoiled, I was able to make my speech.
The living room anti-fascists won't stop me from speaking.
I am neither racist nor homophobic, ”he defended himself.
Asked about the impact of such events on his potential candidacy, the polemicist replied that "when they want to silence me, I speak even more".
Read also Anti-Islam proposal: Eric Zemmour fined 10,000 euros
Yesterday, in Montpellier (Hérault), during the France Africa summit, Emmanuel Macron had tackled the polemicist without naming him.
“When we can begin to put gender equality into perspective, including in the French debate, we have to fight.
Democracy is a fight.
The forces of regression are still there.
There are always people to explain that hatred for others is stronger, ”said the head of state.
While he has not (yet) declared his candidacy for the presidential election, Eric Zemmour was placed, this Wednesday and for the first time, in the second round of the election, according to a Harris Interactive poll for Challenges.
He would benefit from 17 to 18% of the voting intentions, behind Emmanuel Macron (24 to 27%).