Elias Imzalène more “respectable” than Bruno Retailleau. This is what the LFI deputy and chairman of the French National Assembly’s Finance Committee has said Éric Coquerel on the set of RMC on November 15. The Insoumis was asked about his presence at a demonstration in Saint-Denis against the holding of the France-Israel soccer match to denounce a “genocide” in Gaza.

During the rally, the MP appeared alongside the controversial pro-Palestinian activist Elias Imzalène. The latter had notably appeared in October for public incitement to hatred or violence, after having called for “intifada in Paris in September.

“I didn’t realize I was standing next to this person […] I don’t know him, I’m sorry. At this point, I’m going to look at the images of the match and I’m going to tell you that there was Emmanuel Macron next to activists with “Israel will live, Israel will win”, who are far-right”Éric Coquerel retorted.

“I think this person is certainly more respectable, vis-à-vis what Mr. Retailleau is coming out with today, that he borrows a lot of his racist vocabulary etc. from the far right…”, also replied to journalist Apolline de Malherbe’s question as to whether he thought Elias Imzalène was more “respectable”. “respectable” than Bruno Retailleau.

This demonstrator, who is on the S list, is known for his radical and communitarian rhetoric. La France Insoumise had appeared alongside him on several occasions. He was accompanied by Louis Boyard, Carlos Martens Bilongo and Thomas Portes during the demonstration in front of TF1’s offices against Benyamin Netanyahu’s interview on LCI last May, reports L’Express . He had also stood alongside pro-Palestine activist and MEP Rima Hassan at several rallies.