As I began reading your speech on the commemoration of the Vel d’Hiv roundup, I felt grateful toward you.

Indeed, in the light of the long tradition of political leaders, both Left and Right, past and present, who have denied France’s participation and responsibility in the deportation of Jewish-origin people to the death camps, I was grateful that you instead took a clear position, without any ambiguity: yes, France is responsible for the deportation, yes there was antisemitism in France before and after the Second World War. Yes, we must continue to fight all forms of racism.

I saw these positions as standing in continuity with the courageous statement you made in Algeria, saying that colonialism constitutes a crime against humanity.