Jean-Philippe Tanguy defends use of controversial phrase

Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a deputy for the Rassemblement National (RN), has faced intense criticism following a speech in which he used the phrase ‘le travail rend libre’ (work sets you free). The slogan is widely recognized as the Nazi-era phrase ‘Arbeit macht frei,’ which was displayed at the entrances of concentration and extermination camps, including Auschwitz-Birkenau.

A two-second video clip of the remark has circulated widely on social media. Tanguy defended himself on Europe 1/CNews, stating that the phrase was ‘isolated’ from his full thirty-minute speech. He explained that his remarks were intended to discuss how fair wages and social rights acquired during the Resistance allow individuals to achieve emancipation and freedom.

While Tanguy maintains that he ‘said nothing wrong,’ he addressed the controversy regarding his choice of words during his defense.