For Dominique de Villepin, there “is no place for such remarks in the democratic debate”. “Slander and lies deny the debate,” the former Prime Minister launched this Sunday evening on LCI. This was reacting to the statements of the essayist Bernard-Henri Lévy earlier on the same channel. “I believe that there is [Jean-Luc Mélenchon] as with Dominique de Villepin, something other than cold calculation. There is a hatred that he inspires, that he exudes. A hatred of Israel and those whose name Israel is, that is to say the Jews,” tackled the philosopher.
Enough to provoke the anger of Dominique de Villepin who “cannot accept such words from Bernard-Henri Lévy which undermine the dignity that every man must have when he expresses himself in the public space”. The former Prime Minister has long advocated for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip where the war between Hamas and the Israeli army continues.
Conversely, “BHL” has repeatedly taken a public position in favor of Israel, calling for it to “help it defeat Hamas.” At the end of last September, he estimated on BFMTV that it was “a mistake to ask for a ceasefire” in the Middle East.
“I ask for an apology”
“I think that in the democratic debate, and what is more the day before October 7, at a time when we are going to commemorate a terrible massacre, there is a need for dignity and respect in the debate,” attacked Dominique de Villepin. “The number 1 condition of debate is respect for others. There is a double essentialization of my person,” denounced the man who was also Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2002 and 2004. “The debate is not at all about any Jewish question or a question of Israel. What opposes me to Bernard-Henri Lévy? This is the question of war and peace. »
“I ask for an apology and I ask for democratic behavior that is respectful of others,” declared Dominique De Villepin, denouncing a “double essentialization of my ideas and my person.” “Contrary to what Bernard-Henri Lévy says, what emerges from him is hatred of others. »
Questioned again on the question on franceinfo this Monday morning, the former tenant of Matignon considered that his “word is fundamentally disturbing”. “That people argue with me, that they disagree, I understand that, but that they essentialize my words, my person, even on my physique, that, I cannot admit,” said he said again.
For his part, the city leader of La France insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon – also attacked by Bernard-Henri Lévy – reacted on X (ex-Twitter). “De Villepin, you are wasting your time with BHL who insults us. »
“A word from Saint Augustine sums up what we can say about it: shame on him who is without shame! »
