French Minister Aurore Bergé sparked intense political controversy after refusing to describe the far right great replacement conspiracy theory as racist.
Bergé, who serves as Minister for the Fight against Discrimination in the French government under President Emmanuel Macron, faced swift condemnation on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from political figures across the spectrum, including members of her own ruling Renaissance party.
The controversy began following an interview on the French news channel CNews on Wednesday, September 9. Pressed repeatedly to clarify whether she viewed the theory as racist, Bergé evaded the question before stating she did not think it was a theory, leaving her sentence unfinished.
She emphasized that she actively opposes the concept, which claims that European white and Christian populations are being systematically replaced through mass immigration directed by elites. Bergé added that the theory is factually false and deceitful, warning that it seeks to create a climate of fear across France.
Dispute over freedom of expression
Defending her stance during an interview on the franceinfo news network on Thursday morning, Bergé argued that public debate on the topic forms part of freedom of expression. She contended that categorizing the theory as inherently racist would imply that people do not have the right to debate it, stating that she preferred to counter the idea through active argument.
Bergé reiterated her position on Thursday afternoon during a press conference following a meeting of the Council of Ministers, the executive cabinet of the French government. She stated that just as she would not submit to false theories from the far right, she would not yield to demands from the far left that effectively censor public debate.
The minister also stressed that the concept does not fall under the scope of French law as a criminal offense. She maintained that she had clearly identified it as a false theory that she continues to fight, reiterating that it serves to build a breeding ground for public fear.
Backlash from presidential party and opposition
Her comments drew sharp criticism from within the presidential majority. Renaissance lawmaker Prisca Thevenot publicly challenged Bergé on the social media platform X, asking how a minister could suggest that a racist theory should be debated like a standard political opinion.
Thevenot, an ally of former prime minister and presidential candidate Gabriel Attal, stressed that racism is a criminal offense under French law. She added that the great replacement is not a legitimate debate but a conspiracy theory that has previously motivated acts of terrorism.
Thevenot's statement prompted widespread support from left wing opposition leaders. Manuel Bompard, coordinator of the left wing party La France Insoumise, wrote on X that Thevenot was entirely correct. Bompard questioned how Bergé could remain minister for discrimination while denying that the theory is racist, asking if she needed reminding that submersion theories have long been central to far right politics.
Aurélien Rousseau, a member of parliament close to social democratic presidential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann, expressed similar outrage. Rousseau accused the minister of guilty complacency, arguing that treating the great replacement as a normal topic of discussion serves to trivialize unvarnished racism.
Matthieu Pigasse, an investment banker also considering a political candidacy on the left, warned against validating far right obsessions. He stated that mainstream politicians who adopt the language of the far right end up normalizing its ideas and its racism.
Government defense and historical context
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon defended Bergé following the cabinet meeting, describing the criticism as an unfair trial. Bregeon estimated that the minister had clearly articulated core principles and values while accurately stating the current status of French law.
The great replacement theory was originally introduced in 2010 by French writer Renaud Camus. Camus claimed that native European populations were being intentionally replaced by non-European immigrants with the complicity of political and cultural elites.
The thesis is widely rejected by mainstream demographers and social scientists. In its 2022 report, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, France's official human rights advisory body, classified the concept as a fantasy. The commission concluded that the term gives traditional xenophobic discourse renewed vigor by combining it with identity politics.
Related political developments
The political dispute surrounding Bergé comes alongside several other recent news stories involving the minister and broader national debates. In Auch, local resistance emerged against a planned venue appearance by controversial influencer and adult film actor AD Laurent at the Red Club.
Bergé was also recently cleared of allegations regarding a scandal in private childcare nurseries. The Court of Justice of the Republic, the judicial body responsible for judging ministerial conduct, issued a dismissal order after finding that the minister had not lied during inquiries.
Additionally, national discussions around immigration and the replacement theory feature prominently in a newly published book by far right figure Éric Zemmour, which recounts five controversial details including private conversations with President Emmanuel Macron.
