Manon Aubry sparks controversy over remarks on billionaires

Manon Aubry, co-president of the Left group in the European Parliament, has sparked controversy following remarks made during the La France Insoumise summer university. Aubry stated that taxing the wealthy is insufficient and proposed that billionaires should be banned, describing them as ‘nuisibles’ (pests/harmful beings). She argued that banning billionaires would prevent them from controlling the media and harming the planet.

The comments triggered a heated exchange on social media with journalist Jean-Michel Aphatie. Aphatie criticized the use of the term ‘nuisibles,’ arguing it carries the violence of totalitarianism and drawing historical parallels to dehumanizing rhetoric used in the past. Aubry countered by accusing Aphatie of making an antisemitic comparison between billionaires and Jewish people, labeling his critique as a prejudice held by the ‘media bourgeoisie.’