The political battle wins the field of memory.
While Jean Castex went to Auschwitz, Poland, on Thursday to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the camp, Emmanuel Macron also wanted to celebrate the International Day of Holocaust Victims from Paris.
Before presiding over a silent flame rekindling ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe in the early evening, the Head of State spoke in a short video posted on his Twitter account.
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Read alsoAnti-Semitism is increasing, according to 64% of French Jews
"
To remain faithful to the promise (of 'never again') made (to) the survivors, we must continue tirelessly to keep the memory of the victims alive - especially when some try to falsify
it", he begins. , after quoting a speech by the late Simone Veil.
Although he does not cite him by name, this charge is directly addressed to Éric Zemmour, and targets his often-repeated polemical remarks about Marshal Pétain who allegedly “
saved French Jews
” during the Second World War.
Significant resurgence of anti-Semitism, particularly linked to prejudice against Jews
Similarly, Emmanuel Macron regrets that the "
fight
" against anti-Semitism has "
unfortunately become topical again because the bad winds are blowing again
" in certain "
political speeches
".
Here again, the president targets his future nationalist adversary, as he had already done since Vichy, at the beginning of December, by calling not to "
manipulate
" nor "
agitate
" or "
review
" History.
And as he had also done this week, in Oradour-sur-Glane, by denouncing "
those who run the risk of forgetting
".
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In addition to the imminence of the presidential election, which will take place in just over two months, these outings are also part of the publication of an Ifop study for Fondapol and the AJC, published on Wednesday.
It reports a significant and worrying resurgence of anti-Semitism in the country, which is manifested by an increase in verbal and physical attacks.
And which seems partly fueled, according to the survey, by a very strong adherence to prejudices about Jews, especially among Muslims.
