France’s provocateur is coming to London

Five years ago, London’s affluent French poured their dosh into the campaign of Emmanuel Macron. This time around, supporters of France’s rising provocateur are trying a similar tactic.

Eric Zemmour is the Tucker Carlson of French media. A potential rival to Marine Le Pen, he is planning a visit to London in October. His undeclared but badly concealed French presidential campaign has the backing of ‘Generation Z’, a shadowy group of French political consultants and fundraisers, who are looking at the monied expatriates of South Kensington and seeing potential campaign money.

I profiled Zemmour in the magazine in March. His Jewish family fled Algeria during the war of independence, and he now makes a living frequently attacking Islamism on his nightly TV show, which consistently outperforms its rivals. His star appeal means that Marine Le Pen fears him, since he attracts many of her supporters who are increasingly doubtful of her third bid for the presidency.