“These are facts of terrorism”. Interrogated by local radio Delta FM on the call to block refineries and ports, deputy LaREM of Pas-de-Calais Jean-Pierre Pont compared the actions of the strike to acts of terrorism.
“Taking France hostage is completely illegal anyway and these are facts of terrorism”, we can hear him say on a recording released on Monday. “Is that democracy?” questions the deputy.
We hear the journalist stress that “comparing strikers to terrorists is still quite strong”. But the elected official does not dismount and confirms his first statement: “Taking someone hostage is what is that? Democrats? People who respect the Republic? No.”
“It could end in deaths!”
Use of the expression “hostage taking” in the context of strikes has been strongly criticized on numerous occasions. This summer, a Bataclan survivor, who had participated in the teachers’ strike and the withholding of copies of the baccalaureate, had attacked Emmanuel Macron who had used this expression with regard to the striking teachers.
“By using the term ‘hostage-taking’ for the striking teachers who have kept notes and copies, not only do you associate the officials of National Education with terrorists but in addition you insult the victims”, had written the national education official.
But Jean-Pierre Pont, who also uses the term ‘hostage taking’, completely assumes this analogy: “‘Taking hostage’ makes me think of hostages in Lebanon, of hostages when there was business in Paris. .. It could end in deaths! Cut the electricity at a retirement home or at a hospital center, I cannot admit that, “said the MP, referring to the power cuts.
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