Behind the controversy, the very clever communications … Robert – Le Figaro

INTERVIEW – The mayor of Béziers has made a specialty of stimulating discussion about very criticized measures. His method, however, has nothing to do with skids. Decryption with Christian Delporte, a specialist in political communication.

A large part of politicians lambasted his last outing, worthy of the “spirit 1939 “in the words of Justice Minister Christiane Taubira. The mayor of Béziers (Hérault), Robert Ménard, has again sparked controversy by saying he established in his town a supposed Muslim proportion of children based on their names to better help them. “The names say confessions. To say the opposite is to deny the obvious, “has dealt on France 2 the aedile elected in 2014 with support from the National Front (FN). Statements that earned him spend an hour with the police on Wednesday, a day after a search of his town hall.

The mayor has already had the opportunity on several occasions, to place its common center of the national news. After the curfew for minors, measures adopted less than a month after his arrival, the arming of the police boasted sensational shots posters or order prohibiting the hanging washing on balconies raised some windows questions and criticisms. But for Christian Delporte, media historian and specialist in political communication, these highly symbolic ads are not slippages and best dealt a clever communication of the elected right-wing.

<. strong> Le Figaro – with controversial measures taken in Beziers, Robert Menard triggered controversy far beyond its city. Is it always calculated

Christian DELPORTE -. To understand Robert Ménard today, we must remember its history. This reporter Montpellier created the association Reporters Without Borders (RSF), but not as we know it. Initially, it was possible to talk about topics that do not appear in the media. It has absolutely no market. Then he reoriented into a symbolic body of the freedom of the press and thus grant RSF notoriety

This shows how Robert Ménard is a communicator. He knows how to draw attention. This is why he arrived at Béziers and this is how he continued his mandate. He played a lot on the image of “big mouth”, an image he maintains especially since it has considerable contacts in the media. Before arriving in the city, he was already a political figure, but it was not obvious that it would approach the National Front. He took up his public reputation and pushed so.

A higher degree of controversy, however, seems to have been reached Tuesday with the count of children by their first name. Has it gone too far?

In this case, Robert Ménard knew that his statements would have an impact, it was also his goal. The risk is to go too far, and to commit the notorious “Skid”. The question is, however, not whether there is

controversy or not, but how it exceeds the media framework and earns opinion. When he speaks well, the mayor of Béziers knows that there will be an echo in public opinion. From this point of view, it is in the tradition of provocation that is current at the FN, which Jean-Marie Le Pen is the perfect example: its statements triggered the hubbub of media but all signs were introduced to the electorate.

In the case of counting children, in my opinion, this ad has indeed shocked the media and probably part of the opinion. But not the one Robert Ménard aims. This one, in contrast, receives the speech pretty well. Not to mention that triggered such an outcry, he endorses the image of one who says out loud what everyone thinks everything down, transgressing the system of political elites to those who unanimously denounce his comments. One way to partner, again, the usual techniques of the FN.

“In reality, it’s always the same chapter that is playing. It is always symbolic measures that are put forward. “

Robert Ménard he always seeks to hit harder in the media?

In a way there is actually a continuum. When doing stunts, there is a risk that it runs out, and must be constantly renewed. But in reality, it’s always the same chapter that is playing. It is always symbolic measures that are put forward. Normally, managing a city hall, this is not it. But Robert Ménard never addresses the technical issues affecting the municipality.

All this is calculated. Arriving to his electorate biterrois, first: if we did a survey on all measures it has initiated, including the latter, it would probably be followed by the portion of the opinion that elected mayor. But his speech is intended especially to all of France and the national political debate. All this are tests. His idea is to Béziers a laboratory of the extreme right: he knows that the decisions taken in his city are followed elsewhere, and assesses their impact and

. consequences of his remarks on France 2 do not grow Robert Ménard to halt its controversial exits?

This is a man who knows so well the media system that we may assign to “slippage”. This is reflected. So yes, I think we will still love to hear from Beziers in the coming months.