During a November 2026 interview with American broadcaster CBS on the program '60 Minutes', Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National, claimed that there is no discrimination in France and described the country as the 'least racist in the world'. Le Pen said the unemployment rate among immigrants was twice as high as among French citizens. CBS presenter Trevor Phillips asked whether the higher rate might reflect discrimination. [1]
Her statements came amid intense scrutiny following a racially motivated attack in Trappes two weeks before the interview, which resulted in the death of Pengo Bossio Wangi and injured several others. The suspect had allegedly targeted victims based on their race, stating he wanted to attack 'Black people and Arabs'. Left-wing presidential candidate François Ruffin condemned Le Pen's comments. La France Insoumise coordinator Manuel Bompard called the remarks 'ignoble' and pointed to the recent racist attack. [1]
Official data contradicts Le Pen's assertions. According to French Ministry of Interior statistics for 2025, the unemployment rate for immigrants stood at 12%, compared to 7% for non-immigrants. The Defender of Rights (Défenseur des Droits), in a 2024 study, concluded that perceived origin is the main factor in experiencing employment discrimination. Additionally, a 2025 Cegos diversity barometer found that workplace racism was the third criterion for discrimination in employment, and 18% of French employees reported suffering penalties due to their ethnic origin—a figure higher than the European average of 12%. [1]
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