A Left-Wing Scholar’s Controversial Take on Immigration
A prominent leftist academic stirred debate by suggesting that mass immigration from Africa could serve as a “great irrigation” for French society.
While mainstream media and the political establishment have often aimed to discredit those warning about the displacement of European populations due to state-sponsored immigration, the French left seems to be embracing these ideas more openly, celebrating the phenomenon instead.
Eric Orsenna, a French scholar and former politician, appeared on “Libre à Vous,” a show on Le Figaro TV, and argued that France should welcome mass immigration from Africa for the “vitality, humour, music, and art” the continent brings.
During the show, moderator Guyonne de Montjeu posed a question to the Académie Française: “Should we enrich old Europe with this? Do you want to renew old Europe from within?”
“I think this is actually what’s happening. It’s not about massive replacement; it’s about massive irrigation!” Orsenna responded.
These remarks echo ideas from French philosopher Renaud Camus, who contends that Western elites perceive their own citizens merely as economic units, easily replaced by low-cost foreign labor.
In reaction to Orsenna’s statements, French journalist Arthur de Watrigan noted, “When he talks about the ‘Great Irrigation,’ it’s from a vantage point that has never experienced the costs of what he celebrates, loving France only on the terms of its transformation. Those close to power yet distant from reality are quite intriguing.”
Former presidential candidate Eric Zemmour commented, “Back in 2022, when I raised concerns about the Great Replacement, I was labeled a ‘conspiracy theorist’ by the political media class. Today, the left seems to have no trouble theorizing about it. Great irrigation, new faces, new France… It’s time to support those who are willing to confront this very real challenge.”
Another former candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the La France Insoumise party, has also been vocal in promoting immigration as a path to revitalizing France, often suggesting that “old” France needs restoration with contributions from immigrants, particularly from Morocco and other Maghreb nations.
Last year, Carlos Martens Bilongo, an LFI MP and Mélenchon supporter, claimed that immigrant populations outnumber those in mainland France. He remarked, “It would be unfortunate for them if we had more children than they did. If they wanted to have kids, they should have loved and had them. We’ve managed to have children, and our mothers raised us well,” he said, noting his Angolan heritage.
However, resistance to mass immigration appears to be on the rise among the French public. A recent survey indicated that 60% of respondents felt their country was being gradually replaced by non-Europeans, predominantly from Africa. Almost 70% of those who agreed believed this trend to be detrimental to France.
