'Racist' politician expelled by party

Published on Sunday 28 January 2007 01:20

FRANCE'S Socialist Party yesterday expelled politician Georges Freche after he was criticised for saying there were too many black players on the national soccer team.

In November, Freche, of the southern Languedoc-Roussillon region, was quoted by Midi Libre newspaper as saying he was ashamed that up to nine of 11 starters on the French team were black.

"It would be normal if there were three or four, that would be a reflection of society," Freche was quoted as saying. "But if there are so many, it's because whites are no good. I'm ashamed for this country."

President Jacques Chirac issued a stern condemnation, and several prominent Socialists, including the party's presidential candidate, Segolene Royal, demanded he quit the party.

Following the uproar over the comments, Freche announced last week he was withdrawing from the party for three or four months to avoid hurting Royal's chances in upcoming presidential elections.

But the move didn't go far enough. At a meeting yesterday in Paris, members of the Socialists' national conflict commission voted unanimously to expel Freche, whose comments they judged "incompatible with the values of equality and respect for human rights," the party said in a statement.

Speaking last week on Canal Plus television, Royal called Freche's remarks "unacceptable and humiliating" and said that she hoped he would be expelled.