PS MP protests against racist aggression against Portuguese-born French mayor

Socialist MP Paulo Pisco, in an open letter to French Ambassador to Lisbon Hélène Farno-Defromon, protested the “racist aggression” recently suffered by the Portuguese-born French mayor.

The open letter, which the Lusa agency had access to, denounces the “racist aggression” that Frédéric Oguis, president of Tours Metrópole Val de Loire, directed on 4 April against Cédric de Oliveira, president of the Chamber of Fondette, a French commune in the regional center administration.

“This was a bad example and an act of wanton violence that should not be in our societies, which are increasingly falling into extremism, so harmful to democracy and the republican values ​​that we share,” Paulo Pisco wrote in an Open Letter.

The MP considered that the “racist statements” constituted “an insult not only to Cédric de Oliveira, but also to his relatives, his friends, all French people of Portuguese origin, all Portuguese people, whether they are in France or spread all over the world.”

“I don’t understand how unfounded racist and xenophobic statements like those made by Frederic Augy can be made between the Portuguese and the French, between people in general. As a representative of the Portuguese abroad, as a person, I feel offended,” he added.

Paulo Pisco stressed that “the friendship between Portugal and France is indestructible, but despite Mr. Orzysz’s apology, the damage has already been done and the wound is open and, unfortunately, there is a risk of repetition.”

The MP brought the open letter to the attention of the president of the Os Republicanos (LR, in French abbreviation) Eric Ciotti, the president of the parliamentary group of this party, Olivier Marlet, and the president of France. Friendship Group of Portugal, Frenchwoman Christine Pires Bon in Parliament.