Speeches

Madam President, in Europe, millions of people with disabilities, visible or invisible, are abandoned by politicians who claim to defend solidarity, but forget most of it. In France, it was not until 2024 that a law was passed finally allowing the reimbursement of wheelchairs, and in the European institutions, including Parliament, the special needs of some colleagues are not taken into account. Meanwhile, billions of euros are being injected into the reception of migrants under the impetus of the European Commission, which is imposing ruinous quotas and reception policies on our states. How can we justify the fact that this money is not primarily used to guarantee an accessible school or transport, adapted aids or devices for the autonomy of people with disabilities? This European Union of elites, unable to protect its own, has no lesson in solidarity. We, the Patriots, defend another priority: putting people back at the centre, protecting our citizens and putting Europeans first, especially those who suffer and have been abandoned for too long.

I hope that the rule of law exists in Romania, and it is in order for it to continue to exist that I express what I have just said. It is absolutely astonishing to see, for the first time in history, it seems to me – at least for many years – that a presidential election in this part of Europe is cancelled between the two rounds – and, at the time it was cancelled, there was no basis, at least no evidence, they were just allegations. So, in general, the election judge, when it comes to the Constitutional Council, decides once the second round is over. That is what I meant.

Mr President, today, social networks like X or TikTok have become battlegrounds for our democracy. But let's not be naive: behind the beautiful speeches of Brussels on the fight against disinformation, there is a clear desire to muzzle those who really defend the people in the face of a system that confiscates freedoms. The European Commission claims to protect our democracies, but its solutions are always to monitor, censor and control. Removing anonymity or filtering content is another step towards a censorship society, and citizens know it: 64% of French people believe that violations of individual freedoms have worsened over the past ten years, according to a Senate figure. Today, the mindset promoted by the European Commission leads to unprecedented situations, where an election is interrupted between two rounds, without formal evidence. This is what is happening in Romania today. But let’s be clear, this is a precedent that could be replicated elsewhere in the EU to impose the system’s unique thinking. We Patriots stand for free public debate and accessible information. Social networks must remain spaces where everyone can express themselves freely, without fear of being gagged by a Brussels machine of ideological control.

Mr President, the latest Europol report highlights the culpable inaction of our leaders in the face of a growing terrorist threat in Europe. With 120 attacks recorded in 2023, it is European citizens who are paying the high price for this growing insecurity. Even more worrying: Jihadist terrorism remains the deadliest, causing the death of many innocent people. In addition, there have been hundreds of arrests for terrorist offences, mainly related to jihadism. What is the EU doing to stop this threat? Our borders remain sieves, the new European files of the entry-exit system for border control are at least three years behind schedule, extremist propaganda thrives online, and young people are targeted by destructive ideologies. We demand a start, which will necessarily involve the restoration of our borders, the systematic expulsion of individuals registered for radicalisation and zero tolerance towards those who jeopardise our security. It is time to finally protect the French and Europeans and defend our civilization against its enemies, who want its loss.

Madam President, the best interests of the child must be our priority in everything, but the European Commission is insidiously undermining this objective. The Commission promotes wokist aggression against the foundations of the family and pays NGOs to make us believe that all migrants in the world have an unconditional right to violate Europe's borders. Wokism and mass immigration are helping each other to destroy the future of our Europe. The first victims are children. In France, as in each of our nations represented in this Parliament, our children are indeed the first victims of wokist poison, this ideology that wants to rewrite our history and destroy our cultural landmarks. Today, children grow up in schools where our national identities are systematically attacked and where they are taught to be ashamed of themselves, to feel guilty for facts of the past that do not concern them in any way. This climate of guilt is unacceptable. We refuse to allow our children to be sacrificed on the altar of multiculturalism and the denial of our heritage. Leading this cultural battle and protecting our borders also means protecting their future. The fight against uncontrolled immigration is a fight for our children, for their right to a quality education, but above all for their right to be proud of their national identity, its history and its values drawn from the crucible of European civilization. The best interest of the child is to be protected from the evils of wokism and cultural relativism.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the Commission’s intention may seem attractive. Who doesn't want to fight online hatred and radicalisation of young people? But be careful! Who will decide what is right or wrong? Do we really want to entrust this power to Brussels? Let us remember the episode where Commissioner Breton tried to ban the broadcast of the Trump-Musk debate on European social networks. Where is the freedom of expression? Last week, in the Civil Liberties Committee, our opponents denied the link between the rise of anti-Semitism and the arrival of non-European populations bringing their hatred of Israel. This is unacceptable. Do we want a thought police led by wokist lobbies eager to destroy our civilization? No, we don't want to. Let us not give the European Commission censorship powers. Let us protect our freedom of thought and expression, because democracy cannot be built on silence.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, seven years ago Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered. Why? Because she had dared to expose the underside of corruption in Malta. Corruption that – surprise, surprise! – would involve officials of the socialist government. Yes, that is what we are trying to stifle. Meanwhile, the investigation is not moving forward. Seven years of omerta. Seven years of guilty silence. Let us pay tribute to this journalist, as Roberta Metsola did. But let's be honest: it is a democratic nightmare that the European Union is letting journalists murder on its own soil. What a shame! We are constantly being told about the rule of law and European values, but when it comes to protecting the system’s cronies, suddenly Brussels is silent. And what about this investigation, which leads to nothing? Why? Because figures of Maltese socialist power might be involved? So we prefer to close our eyes, stifle the case and allow justice to rot. This is the European Union version of the rule of law. Two weights, two measures. When the European Commission has fun policing sovereign governments, such as in Poland or Hungary, it forgets to look at its socialist allies. When you are complacent about the corruption that kills, you have no lessons to teach. The Commission would do well to start by sweeping in front of its door. Enough of this hypocritical circus! Legitimate governments elected by their people are being attacked while the turpitudes of other corrupt governments are being ignored. The real scandal is there: Protected elites, two-tier justice. Meanwhile, the people of Europe are losing confidence because they see clearly that those who govern are only there to serve their own interests, not those of their citizens. So to the European Commission I say: “Stop meddling in the affairs of sovereign nations and start by putting your own ranks in order.”

Madam President, this debate is crucial because it concerns the financial assistance that the European Union provides to Hamas and more generally to Islamist organisations. The European Commission, on October 7, dared to deny any involvement, but the evidence is accumulating as evidence. European citizens deserve better than baseless denials. They demand the truth. Let's recall a few facts. The National Rally has seized the European Public Prosecutor's Office over a grant of more than 1.8 million euros to the Islamic University of Gaza, Hamas' infamous campus. A scandal that should resonate in all heads and awaken consciences. And what about the Turkish Islamic University of Gaziantep, integrated into the Erasmus+ programme in 2022? This university paid tribute, I quote, "to the mujahedeen of October 7", calling this date a "day of awakening". This is unacceptable. His rector doesn't even hide anymore. He openly supports Hamas, as do some of its professors. And even if the European Commission has just suspended a payment of 250,000 euros, thanks to our action, it is a shame! So how much more evidence does the European Commission need to open its eyes and definitively stop all support for organisations linked to terrorism? The money of the French and Europeans must not be used to finance our enemies. Europe must choose its side: peace or barbarism.

Madam President, a few days ago in France, a young woman named Philippine was brutally assaulted and killed by a Moroccan national. He was convicted of rape and subject to a deportation order. Similar tragedies happen every week in France and in many European countries. I denounce here the culture of laxity that disarms our national and European legislation. This laxity is the result of an ideology infiltrated into the institutions of the European Union and which gives ever more rights to migrants, in defiance of the right of the French and other Europeans to live in safety at home, protected by borders. This ideology promotes preference for foreigners and its propaganda claims that it is forbidden to ban illegal crossings of our borders. This ideology weakens our ability to return illegal immigrants to their country. To prepare for expulsions of aliens, administrative detention was once the rule. But for years, lobbying by pro-migrant NGOs and some political groups has made retention an exception. So we must act quickly and demand that European rules to expel illegal aliens be tougher.

Madam President, on 4 October, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered an unrealistic decision, exposing the Member States to an unprecedented migratory surge. Unfortunately, the right to asylum has already become a vast channel for legalizing illegal immigration, whereas it should only be granted on the basis of an examination of individual cases of persecution. However, this decision of the Court risks exacerbating the abuses of the right of asylum. In fact, it decided in its judgment that, in order to obtain refugee status, it is no longer necessary to establish that an Afghan asylum seeker is actually and specifically at risk of persecution if returned to her country of origin. For the Court, all Afghan women can obtain asylum solely on the basis, I quote, of "their gender and nationality". If the situation of Afghan women is tragic and we must support them in their fight for freedom, the European Union has neither the vocation to welcome them all, nor the vocation to welcome their whole family under family reunification, especially since there is not really a very reliable civil status in Afghanistan. I therefore ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to vote in favour of a debate on this judgment of the Court of Justice and its consequences.

Madam President, Commissioner, there is a debate today on Hungary's residence and work permit to attract foreign labour from outside the European Union. However, this debate shows the duplicity of the European Commission and certain political groups when it comes to immigration and the security of the external borders of the Schengen area. In the LIBE committee a few days ago, the Commission admitted that the Hungarian system was technically in line with EU law and in this context, Commissioner Ylva Johansson repeated several times that the question for her was whether or not to trust the Hungarian authorities. This issue of trust is eminently political. So I return it to the Commission to see if we can trust it. For years, Mrs von der Leyen's Commission and Mrs Johansson have been explaining to us, together with the left, the centre and their NGO friends, that migrants who illegally cross the external borders of the European Union must not be prevented from setting foot on our territory, even though in doing so they are violating European law. Preventing migrants from violating the borders of the European Union was, according to Mrs Johansson and her political friends, I quote, 'push back'. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have entered Europe illegally every year over the last five years because of your ideology that wants us to believe, I quote friends of some NGOs, that "migrants have an unconditional right to set foot in Europe". This ideology, your ideology at the European Commission, threatens the security of Europeans because these illegal crossings let in migrants too often involved in criminal acts and sometimes, alas, involved in terrorist acts against our citizens. So I ask the question: Who preferred to make the interests of illegal immigrants prevail over the interests of Europeans and against the national security of our States? This is the Commission of Mrs von der Leyen and Commissioner Johansson. Moreover, she acknowledged this on the day of the adoption of the Pact on Asylum and Migration, stating that it was a victory for migrants. But the Europeans have disavowed at the polls your policy of supporting illegal migrants. So no, we cannot trust the outgoing von der Leyen Commission and no, nor can we trust the incoming new von der Leyen Commission. The accusations against the Hungarian residence and work permit are a smokescreen to make people forget that the Pact on Asylum and Migration seriously harms the identity and security of French and Europeans in general.