The socialist president of the Occitanie region, Carole Delga apologized on Wednesday on the social network Twitter after awkward remarks made on the antenna of France Info the same morning. "My name is Delga. 1st, 2nd, 100th generation, we are all children of immigrants. In the face of those who brandish immigration as a threat, I recalled that it is a richness, a contribution to the genius and success of our country. I regret that I misspoke. " she wrote on the social network at the end of the morning.
My name is Delga. 1st, 2nd, 100th generation, we are all children of immigrants. In the face of those who brandish immigration as a threat, I recalled that it is a richness, a contribution to the genius and success of our country.
I regret that I misspoke.
— Carole Delga (@CaroleDelga) June 7, 2023
This clarification comes after words held on public radio during questions on the future immigration bill that could be on the agenda of the National Assembly in July. The politician with presidential ambitions rejected Gérald Darmanin's government vision and launched into a pro-immigration argument. "We must stop conveying this image of immigration that represents only a threat," pleads the PS president of Occitanie, "favorable" to the regularization of undocumented migrants in trades in tension but "perfectly opposed" to the reduction of State Medical Aid, she begins.
Immigration law: "We must stop conveying this image of immigration that represents only a threat," pleads the PS president of Occitanie, "favorable" to the regularization of undocumented migrants in trades in tension but "perfectly opposed" to the reduction of the AME pic.twitter.com/FCvsBjLZGO
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) June 7, 2023
"They are French, be careful there is a difference"
"Immigration is an asset," she continues. Who made hospitals, retirement homes work during the Covid crisis? There were a lot of immigrants. Who are the favorite personalities of the French? It's Kylian Mbappé, Yannick Noah... " she argues. "They are French, be careful there is a difference," retorts Salhia Brakhlia, the journalist of France Info, stunned.
"They are really from other countries" tries to recover Carole Delga who obviously assimilates Kylian Mbappé and Yannick Noah to immigration. "Mbappé was born in France," the journalist replies. "Yes, but his parents... Delga continues. "The footballer's mother was born in France," says the presenter, as does Yannick Noah's. "What I mean is that in politics, you can't stigmatize immigration," tries a troubled Carole Delga.
Faced with the outcry caused by the sequence, the socialist candidate ended up reacting a few hours later, and apologizing.