PARIS—French Immigration Minister Eric Besson has been trying to publicly restore his dignity after having been called “a Front National [far-right] infiltrate in the government” by controversial humorist Stephane Guillon on a radio show.
“No one has ever been able to make me bend,” wrote an angered Besson in an article published in a Liberation newspaper Monday. “This will not begin with a coward like Guillon.”
Stephane Guillon, a former actor who has become a popular star with his show called “5minutes,” a satiric view of news aired on public Radio France, has become the subject of a heated debate on what should be the right balance between freedom of caricature and basic human respect.
Guillon has long been known—loved by some, despised by others—for his acidic and often aggressive comments on politicians as well as other personalities. In a mock analysis, Guillon said Besson was a far-right infiltrate of the Socialist Party who joined Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative government in an attempt to promote far-right ideas. He then described the minister with “his disagreeable physique, the weasel eyes, his receding chin, the real profile of Iago, ideal for betrayal.”
Condemning Guillon’s initial attack, where he used, according to the minister, “fascist words and methods under the disguise of a supposedly leftist attitude,” Besson emphasized he did not ask for the public excuses made by Radio France president after the last borderline sketch by Guillon.
However, emphasized the minister, if he does usually not feel harmed by “recurrent attacks” on his outward appearance, these remind him of some “far-right media talking points somewhere between World War I and World War II.”
For an angered Besson who, less than 20 minutes after Guillon, was a guest of Radio France on that day, said Guillon was just a “failed actor … a coward, paralyzed by fear to meet with his targets,” avoiding face-to-face talks.
In “5minutes” on Monday, Guillon shot back, saying, “If success is to betray one’s own camp and change side every two years [alluding to Besson being a former Socialist who recently joined the conservative camp], yes indeed, the best is to be a failed [actor].”
Guillon concluded: “Please let him spread his venom, make interviews and attacks. It is an honor and a pleasure for me: All this time he spends dealing with me, he does not spend it in his nice Immigration Ministry.”
Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand spoke up in support of Besson. “The things that were said about Minister Besson, I hate them,” he was quoted in Le Nouvel Obs newspaper.
“No one has ever been able to make me bend,” wrote an angered Besson in an article published in a Liberation newspaper Monday. “This will not begin with a coward like Guillon.”
Stephane Guillon, a former actor who has become a popular star with his show called “5minutes,” a satiric view of news aired on public Radio France, has become the subject of a heated debate on what should be the right balance between freedom of caricature and basic human respect.
Guillon has long been known—loved by some, despised by others—for his acidic and often aggressive comments on politicians as well as other personalities. In a mock analysis, Guillon said Besson was a far-right infiltrate of the Socialist Party who joined Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative government in an attempt to promote far-right ideas. He then described the minister with “his disagreeable physique, the weasel eyes, his receding chin, the real profile of Iago, ideal for betrayal.”
Condemning Guillon’s initial attack, where he used, according to the minister, “fascist words and methods under the disguise of a supposedly leftist attitude,” Besson emphasized he did not ask for the public excuses made by Radio France president after the last borderline sketch by Guillon.
However, emphasized the minister, if he does usually not feel harmed by “recurrent attacks” on his outward appearance, these remind him of some “far-right media talking points somewhere between World War I and World War II.”
For an angered Besson who, less than 20 minutes after Guillon, was a guest of Radio France on that day, said Guillon was just a “failed actor … a coward, paralyzed by fear to meet with his targets,” avoiding face-to-face talks.
In “5minutes” on Monday, Guillon shot back, saying, “If success is to betray one’s own camp and change side every two years [alluding to Besson being a former Socialist who recently joined the conservative camp], yes indeed, the best is to be a failed [actor].”
Guillon concluded: “Please let him spread his venom, make interviews and attacks. It is an honor and a pleasure for me: All this time he spends dealing with me, he does not spend it in his nice Immigration Ministry.”
Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand spoke up in support of Besson. “The things that were said about Minister Besson, I hate them,” he was quoted in Le Nouvel Obs newspaper.
