The National Rally expelled a police officer after Midi Libre published November bodycam footage showing racist, homophobic and sexist remarks by officers in Carcassonne. Equality Minister Aurore Bergé and the RN condemned the language, and the party removed and expelled the officer from its security detail. Prosecutors have opened an investigation, and the episode adds to broader concerns about rising public racism highlighted by Amnesty International.
National Rally Expels Policeman After Racist Bodycam Remarks Spark Outrage
A video showing police officers in Carcassonne making racist and sexist remarks sparked outrage in France (Fred TANNEAU)
France's National Rally (RN) has expelled a police officer from its ranks after bodycam footage showing him and colleagues making racist, homophobic and sexist remarks was published ahead of next year’s presidential election.
The footage, dated November and published by regional daily Midi Libre, was recorded on duty in the southern town of Carcassonne. It captures exchanges in which the officer who speaks most — identified by the paper as a member of the RN's security detail — repeatedly uses derogatory slurs aimed at people perceived as of North African or sub-Saharan African descent.
Official Reaction
Equality Minister Aurore Bergé condemned the comments as “absolutely unacceptable.” The RN issued a statement condemning the language "in the strongest possible terms," calling the remarks "criminally punishable" and saying they were inconsistent with the party's values. The party said it had immediately removed the officer from its security team and expelled him from the National Rally.
Investigation And Political Context
The Carcassonne prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the incident but provided no further details. The episode arrives as RN leader Marine Le Pen mounts a fourth presidential bid; an appeals court in July upheld a graft conviction she is fighting at the country’s highest court. Polls show Le Pen leading in the first round and posing a substantial challenge to rivals in a potential second round.
“Absolutely unacceptable,” — Aurore Bergé, Equality Minister
Broader Concerns
Human rights group Amnesty International has warned of “worrying” public racist rhetoric and strains on the rule of law in recent months. The report also highlights related incidents, including a far-right hate campaign against Bally Bagayoko, the new Black mayor of Paris's largest suburb, and racist letters sent to several Black lawmakers from La France Insoumise.
What Happens Next: Prosecutors will determine whether the remarks amount to criminal offenses; the political fallout could shape the RN's image as Marine Le Pen campaigns for the presidency.
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