National Rally expels Carcassonne police officer over recorded racist remarks

Video recording and judicial inquiry

Excerpts from six hours of body-camera footage recorded in November 2025 were made public on 8 September 2026 by the newspaper Midi Libre, showing a municipal police officer in Carcassonne making racist, misogynistic, and conspiracy-related comments. The officer, identified as a team leader and former military member, unknowingly left his uniform camera running during a routine patrol. The recording captured racial slurs directed at minority groups and derogatory commentary concerning traffic incidents, colonial history, and the Algerian War. Following the publication, the Carcassonne prosecutor confirmed an official investigation into the incident. The officer had previously taken sick leave after the footage circulated internally before returning to active duty in March 2026.

National Rally reaction and expulsion

The leadership of the National Rally announced on 9 September 2026 that the officer had been expelled from the party and immediately dismissed from its volunteer security service. Party officials stated that the officer had performed occasional volunteer security work, including during a visit by party president Jordan Bardella to Carcassonne in February 2026. National Rally deputy Laurent Jacobelli defended the party on BFM TV, emphasizing that the statements contradicted party policy and noting that Carcassonne Mayor Christophe Barthès took office after the recording took place.

You cannot be a member of a party and speak words that are contrary to the line and spirit of the political party you belong to.

Louis Aliot, the vice president of the National Rally and mayor of Perpignan, described the officer as a dangerous and irresponsible individual whose conduct cast unfair suspicion across municipal police forces.

National political reactions

Political figures across France criticized the National Rally following the emergence of the recordings. Gabriel Attal, the presidential candidate for Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party, argued that the incident reflected the party's underlying culture.

This is what France would look like if it were led by the National Rally.

Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure warned voters not to entrust national governance to the National Rally ahead of future elections. Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of La France Insoumise, stated that the episode demonstrated that the party had not altered its internal culture despite public repositioning efforts. Aurore Bergé, minister delegate for gender equality and anti-discrimination, stated on RMC that the remarks were completely unacceptable and constituted a legal offense. Carole Delga, the Socialist president of the Occitanie region, expressed disgust and called for formal disciplinary measures against those involved.

Municipal and union responses

The city administration of Carcassonne released a statement condemning the officer's statements and promising formal proceedings with sanctions proportional to the acts. The municipality noted that the footage was recorded under the preceding right-wing administration and alleged that previous authorities had concealed the video. Police labor representatives also responded to the controversy. Fabien Golfier, national secretary for municipal police at the Autonomous Federation of the Civil Service, stated on franceinfo that the officer had no place in local law enforcement or the civil service. Ludovic Durand, general secretary of the FO municipal police union, condemned the comments as incompatible with professional values while cautioning against broader generalizations regarding the force.