“Go back to Africa,” MP Grégoire de Fournas shouted at black MP Carlos Martens Bilongo in the French parliament on Thursday.
Grégoire de Fournas, who belongs to the extreme right, is temporarily suspended from parliament after the incident.
Bilongo was giving a speech to challenge the government on migrants being left at sea when de Fourna’s ruling came. Bilongo, who is part of the leftist Nupes alliance, was born in France to parents who immigrated from southern Africa.
The incident has triggered a wave of criticism and condemnation, but also a renewed discussion about the poorly hidden racism within the French right.
Marine Le Pen claims on Twitter that he “only” meant boat refugees in general – not that Bilongo in particular would “go back” to Africa.
See the pictures of the parliament in the player above.