Gérald “Moussa” Darmanin target of racist messages

Gérald Darmanin, French Minister of the Interior, claims to have been the target of racist messages. French people do not hesitate to call him by his middle name, Moussa, a tribute to his grandfather, an Algerian rifleman.

In a statement to franceinfo Friday, Gérald Darmanin said he received “periodically, for several weeks, on social networks or by letter”, messages with racist connotations. He claims that citizens call him by his middle name, Moussa, which was given to him in homage to his grandfather, an Algerian rifleman. According to him, this would be an action by “people undoubtedly close to the National Rally candidate” in the early legislative elections – the first round of which takes place this Sunday – in the tenth constituency in the North where he is running.