Far-right pundit vies for French presidential office

Could this far-right pundit known forTrump-like rhetoric become France's next president?

On Sunday, Eric Zemmour, a former journalist and far-right political pundit with tough views on immigration had his first campaign rally as candidate for the French presidential election. Zemmour announced the creation of his own political party, "Reconquête," or "Reconquest," which had already garnered 20,000 supporters in two days, according to French media outlet, BFMTV. https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/presidentielle/reconquete-le-nouveau-parti-d-eric-zemmour-compte-desormais-20-000-membres_AN-202112070176.html

During his televised speech,violence broke out between Zemmour's supporters and protesters from the organization SOS Racism. Sixty-two people were arrested according to French paper Le Parisien, including some members of SOS racism. Zemmour was also attacked by a protester in the crowd, The Associated Press reported. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/probe-opened-fights-french-election-campaign-rally-81580242)

Zemmour, who presents himself as a right-wing political outsider, has been referred to by some as the "French Trump," with a political playbook full of controversial comments and attacks on the press. "For months our meetings have bothered journalists, annoyed politicians and driven mad the left," he said at Sunday's meeting.

The candidate exists outside traditional political parties, and uses rhetoric that even Marine Le Pen and the National Rally -- the far-right party in France, formerly called the National Front -- stay away from.