Ecoutez et répétez: Le Pen mocked for ‘plagiarising’ speech by her rival Fillon
MARINE LE PEN faced accusations of plagiarism today after delivering a speech with sections almost identical to one by François Fillon, a defeated rival for the French presidency. Speak- ing at her final major campaign rally, the candidate for the far-Right National Front spoke of “an alternative way” forward for French nationalism.
She argued “the French way” remains “a hope for the world in the 21st century”. But it emerged that parts of the speech were almost the same as one by Mr Fillon, of the conservative Republicans, near Limoges two weeks ago.
He was rejected in the first round of voting last Sunday, having become embroiled in a financial scandal, and Ms Le Pen faces independent centrist Emmanuel Macron in the final round this Sunday. He is ahead in the polls.
In his speech in Puy-en-Velay on April 15, Mr Fillon referred to language and cultural organisation the Alliance Française, saying: “If there are waiting lists for the Alliance Française in Shanghai, Tokyo, or Mexico, for the French secondary school in Rabat or Rome … that is because France is something else, much more than an industrial, agricultural or military power.”
Yesterday, in the Paris suburb of Villepinte, Ms Le Pen said: “If there are waiting lists for the Alliançe Francaise in Shanghai, Tokyo, or Mexico, for the French secondary school in Rabat or Rome ... that is because France is something else, much more than the industrial, agricultural or military power that it must and can once more become.”
Talking about borders, Mr Fillon said: “Then, there is the frontier of the Rhine, the most open, the most dangerous, the most promising too — this Germanic world with which we have been so often in conflict and with which we will yet co-operate in so many ways.” Ms Le Pen said: “Then, there is the frontier of the Rhine, the most open, the most promising too — this Germanic world with which we will yet co-operate in so many ways, as long as we regain the status of allies and not of subjects or serfs.”
She repeated Mr Fillon’s reference to France’s “three maritime borders” with the English Channel, North Sea and Atlantic. French media accused her of plagiarism and she was mocked on social media. Twitter user Rafa Joss wrote: “Cut and paste a Fillon speech to speak about France? Marine is mocking her voters!” Sakha Nokho posted a clip captioned: “When Francois Fillon strongly inspires Marine Le Pen.”
National Front deputy leader Florian Philippot said the party “owned up” to the resemblances and it was a “nodand-a-wink” to Mr Fillon’s discourse in order to launch a debate” about identity. Her campaign manager David Rachline claimed it was a tribute.