Le Pen's party calls former Spanish PM Rajoy racist over France team remarks

Le Pen's party calls Rajoy racist over his comments about the France team

The French far-right party National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, has branded former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy a "racist" over remarks he made about the French national football team. Rajoy said the squad has "a very high level, though no Frenchmen", referring to the players' diverse backgrounds. Le Pen's party believes "everyone should condemn" these comments.

The controversy has erupted on social media, where reactions were swift. While some argue that Rajoy was merely stating a demographic fact, others see a xenophobic undertone in his suggestion that the players are not really French. The debate reflects the ongoing tension over national identity and multiculturalism, a recurring theme in Le Pen's discourse.

Sources close to Rajoy have made no statement so far, but the former prime minister is known for his occasionally clumsy rhetoric, which has landed him in controversy before. French anti-racism law is strict, though the comment is unlikely to have legal consequences, since Rajoy currently holds no public office.

The National Rally, which is trying to distance itself from its extremist past, seeks to capitalise on episodes like this to present itself as the defender of republican France against what it sees as attacks on its identity. Meanwhile in Spain, the incident has been met with mockery by those who recall Le Pen's own comments on immigration.

The open question is whether this accusation will serve to divert attention from the underlying issues Le Pen's party addresses, such as unemployment or inflation, or whether it will truly mark a turning point in relations between the Spanish and French right.