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French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks in Valeurs Actuelles provoked a diplomatic incident with the Sofia government. (illustration image) REUTERS / Regis Duvignau

The Bulgarian government is indignant at what Emmanuel Macron said and asks for an apology. In an interview with Valeurs Actuelles, the French president said " prefers to have people from Guinea or Cote d'Ivoire legal than Bulgarian or Ukrainian clandestine sectors. "

With our correspondent in Sofia , Damian Vodenitcharov

The French ambassador convened at the Foreign Ministry, a solemn protest issued by the Bulgarian embassy, ​​the Minister of Defense who demands an apology from Emmanuel Macron ... The reaction of the Bulgarian government was soon .

Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva says he is " perplexed " after the French president's remarks , which could even be " insulting " to the Bulgarian community in France.

Defense Minister Krassimir Karakatchanov is indignant that Macron is mixing Bulgaria with France's problems. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's response is more measured; he says he was contacted by Macron, who would have explained his words.

Despite its tensions, the Bulgarian government ensures that bilateral relations between the two countries will not suffer as a result of this incident. Macron recently opposed the European accession of the Western Balkans , including Macedonia, an idea that Bulgaria launched in 2018 when it held the rotating EU presidency.