Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has suspended Bernard Bazinet, mayor of Augignac in Dordogne, for one month following antisemitic Facebook comments on Israel's Eurovision participation. Opting against revocation, the sanction—announced January 1—defers final judgment to voters in March municipal elections, after his prior Socialist Party expulsion.
Bernard Bazinet, mayor of Augignac (825 residents, Dordogne), was suspended for one month by an order published in the Official Journal on Thursday, January 1. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cited the mayor's loss of 'moral authority' following his December antisemitic Facebook remark under a Libération post about Israel's 2026 Eurovision involvement: 'Yes to the boycott! France is too Jewish to boycott.'
Nuñez had condemned the comments on December 22 and considered harsher revocation, but chose suspension to allow Augignac voters to decide in March elections. Bazinet was expelled from the Socialist Party on December 9 for the 'unacceptable terms from the worst extremes.' He faces separate charges of public racist injury in January, with a 500-euro fine.
This case underscores authorities' response to hate speech by elected officials.
