Christian Vanneste

Christian Vanneste' (born July 14, 1947 in Tourcoing, Nord) is a French politician. He is famous for his homophobic remarks.

Career

A member of the French Parliament, he was elected in the 10th constituency of Nord. He belongs to the parliamentary group of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

On January 2006, Vanneste became the first French citizen, and the first French politician, to be fined €3,000 for his homophobic remarks. During a debate in the Assemblée Nationale, and afterwards in the media, he declared homosexual behavior a threat to the survival of humanity, and "morally inferior" to heterosexuality.[1] The judgement, after a refused appeal, was eventually cancelled by the Cour de cassation on November 12, 2008.[2]

In 2005/2006, he reported on the controversial DADVSI copyright bill.

In 2012, Vanneste again encountered controversy after referring to the deportation from France of homosexuals in the Holocaust as a "famous legend", though he acknowledges that they were perscuted in other parts of the Reich.[3] Vanneste may or may not face Holocaust denial charges for the comment. He nevertheless received the support of Serge Klarsfeld the famous French "nazi-hunter".[4] Dominique de Villepin, the former French Prime Minister also admitted that "on historical grounds", his comments were true.[5]

He was beaten in the first round of the June 2012 legislative elections.

References

  1. ↑ Têtu, July–August 2007 issue, page 4
  2. ↑ Chambre criminelle de la Cour de cassation française. 12 novembre 2008, pourvoi n° 07-83398
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ http://www.ndf.fr/nos-breves/15-02-2012/exclusif-serge-klarsfeld-defend-christian-vanneste-de-france-il-ny-a-pas-eu-de-deportation-dhomosexuels
  5. ↑ http://www.ndf.fr/poing-de-vue/06-03-2012/eric-zemmour-et-dominique-de-villepin-au-secours-de-christian-vanneste-et-de-la-verite-historique#.T7PSmL9k4kd

External links