A French politician of African heritage has stirred controversy after seemingly endorsing the so-called “massive replacement” of the native population by foreigners.
Carlos Martens Bilongo, part of the far-left La France Insoumise (France in Rebellion/LFI), appeared on the podcast “African Bookstore” and claimed that minorities are more mixed-race than native French individuals. Le Journal du Dimanche reported this.
Bilongo, who represents Val-d’Oise and is of Congolese (DRC) and Angolan descent, didn’t specify which groups he meant but encouraged people to show that “we are more and more intelligent.
He added, “It would be unfortunate if we had more children than them. If they wanted to have kids, they should have loved each other and had families. We’ve managed that just fine.” His remarks seemed somewhat ambiguous, with an interviewer noting that his words might align with the “Great Replacement” theory, a concept introduced by French philosopher Renaud Camus. This theory suggests that elites treat nationals as interchangeable economic components rather than individuals entitled to preserve their cultural identities.
Mainstream media and traditional politicians often dismiss this perspective as a “far-right conspiracy theory,” yet a recent national survey indicated that half of French citizens believe the Great Replacement is a real phenomenon and that elites are actively pursuing it in France.
In recent decades, the significant immigration to France has upset social cohesion, contributing to numerous terrorist incidents and racial unrest. However, far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon previously blamed this turmoil on indigenous French people opposing change.
He remarked, “When I was born, one in ten French had a foreign grandparent; today, it’s one in four. The self-identified French are creating severe issues for social cohesion.” Last year, he made this comment.
To attract working-class voters, particularly in rural areas who are resistant to his multicultural socialism, Mélenchon has sought to connect with minority voting groups, primarily those from Islamic backgrounds. This has led to accusations against LFI of having ties with Islamic extremist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
Following Bilongo’s comments, Senator Stéphane Ravier has indicated he will bring a complaint to the public prosecutor’s office. Ravier stated, “The only racism still tolerated in France pertains to white individuals, and the judicial system must intervene to protect them.”
