National Rally Expels Member After Video Shows Municipal Police Making Racist Remarks

The National Rally party has expelled a member and removed him from its security service after body camera footage emerged showing municipal police officers in Carcassonne making racist, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks. The video, published by the regional daily Midi Libre, captures officers using racial slurs against migrants and minorities, making comments about the war in Algeria, and discussing a conspiracy theory regarding Brigitte Macron. One officer specifically mentioned that France would become Muslim under President Macron.

The individual most prominent in the video is described as a former parachutist and a dedicated member of the National Rally. He previously provided security for party president Jordan Bardella during a visit to Carcassonne in February 2026. In response to the footage, the National Rally condemned the remarks as criminally reprehensible and stated that the individual was immediately excluded from the party and its security force. Louis Alliot, a National Rally vice president, called the individual a dangerous irresponsible person and described the incident as an isolated case.

Mayor Christophe Barthes and the city of Carcassonne also condemned the remarks. The city stated that the footage dates back to 2025, which was before Mayor Barthes took office, and alleged that the previous administration suppressed the matter. The prosecutor in Carcassonne has opened an investigation into the incident. While center leaning coverage focused on the party's disciplinary action and the timing of the footage relative to the current mayor's term, center left leaning coverage provided detailed transcripts of the slurs and emphasized the officer's specific role in protecting party leadership.