The PP defends Rajoy's xenophobic column as "sarcastic" and "without ill intent" while criticism against the former president multiplies

"Sarcastic column" and "without bad intention", this is how the spokesperson for the Popular Party, Borja Sémper, defended the words written by former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, in a column about the World Cup where he stated that the French team has "a very high level, yes, without Frenchmen." The latest to criticize the former president's words has been the French Foreign Minister who has condemned "the stupidity, mediocrity, and racism" of Rajoy's writing.

DIRECTO📺#Canal24horas | Borja Sémper, portavoz del PP, sobre la columna de Rajoy que ha indignado en Francia:

🗣️"Una columnas de estas que escribe el presidente Rajoy son sarcásticas y son columnas que van sin mala intención" pic.twitter.com/78qWFSDI4X

— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) July 13, 2026

The words of former PP Government President Mariano Rajoy have generated a storm of criticism from the PSOE, the Government, and numerous public figures. One of the latest to speak out has been the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Nöek Barrot, who has described them as "pathetic."

Rajoy published a column this Sunday in which he had to talk about the World Cup in view of the match that Spain will debut against France this Tuesday. In this context, he stated that the French team has "a very high level, yes, without Frenchmen."

Regarding these words, Barrot on the BFMTV television channel, expressed: "These statements are pathetic. Once and for all, France has no skin color. Any statement to the contrary is the result of stupidity, racism, or a combination of both." 

"Stupidity, mediocrity, and racism," he continued his criticism of the former president. He also praised the response of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who called Rajoy's words "xenophobic." Thus, the French Foreign Minister asserted that he "responded very well."

"Xenophobic statements"

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has responded to Mariano Rajoy, after his statements in an opinion column about the French national football team through a message on his X social network in which he said that "there are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth or skin color. Others measure it by the roots to a country and the will to contribute to it. Playing football. Taking care of our elders. Or opening businesses."

The head of the Executive also added: "Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements," and then ended his message by saying: "France, see you in the semifinals. May the best win and racism lose," concluded the president.

Albares demands that Feijóo disavow Rajoy 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has also spoken out against the words of Mariano Rajoy. Upon his arrival at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Union in Brussels, Albares stated that Rajoy's words are "absolutely unacceptable" and stressed that they do not represent either the Government or Spanish society. According to him, he had a conversation with his French counterpart to reiterate the friendship between both countries and to dissociate the Executive from those statements. Albares also commented: "What Mr. Rajoy wrote is absolutely unacceptable. Nothing that closely or remotely could cover up racism or xenophobia represents Spain."

Albares did not stop there, but also demanded that the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, publicly disavow Mariano Rajoy after writing those words in an opinion column. He also demanded a public rectification from the media outlet that published the article and asked for the text to be removed.