After the wave of criticism and consternation, place for sanctions for the platform of generals who call to "support the policies" who will work against the "disintegration" of France.

The chief of staff of the armed forces decided, on the evening of Wednesday April 28, to impose "military disciplinary sanctions" on the eighteen soldiers who signed the forum published in Valeurs Actuelles. 

General François Lecointre told the daily Le Parisien that the sanctions will be "stronger for the most senior".

"I consider that the higher the responsibilities, the stronger the obligation of neutrality and exemplarity," he insisted.

The generals in the "second section" signatories - close to retirement but who can always be recalled - risk for their part "delisting, therefore retirement," he added.

"These general officers will each pass before a higher military council. At the end of this procedure, it is the President of the Republic who signs a decree of radiation", specified General Lecointre.

"I would like their automatic retirement to be decided", he for his part noted, referring to "an exceptional procedure", launched at the request of the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly who had judged their " unacceptable "and" irresponsible "actions.

Forbidden to make "political commitments by highlighting their rank"

Among the signatories, General Christian Piquemal, former boss of the Foreign Legion, was already struck off in 2016 from army officials for having participated in a prohibited demonstration against migrants in Calais.

"I am going to send him a letter to tell him that he is unworthy, dirties the army, weakens it by making it an object of national controversy," General Lecointre indicated.

"I deny them all (...) the right to make political commitments by highlighting their rank," he added.

A recourse to discipline hailed by General Dominique Trinquant.

"I regret that army personnel can get involved on (political subjects), this weakens the institution which is at the service of all citizens, whatever the ballot they put in the ballot box", reacted on France 24 the former head of the French military mission to the United Nations who regrets "a political manipulation which serves the armies".

01:17

No link with the putsch of the generals of Algiers

"If nothing is done, laxity will continue to spread (...), ultimately causing (...) the intervention of our active comrades in a perilous mission to protect our civilizational values ​​(.. .) ", they promise in this text posted online 60 years after the putsch of the generals of Algiers.

"The fantasy of the putsch seems irrelevant to me. There is not the slightest temptation of this kind," replied General Lecointre, when asked about the link with the Algerian war.

The column, published by Valeurs Actuelles on April 21, signed in particular by about twenty generals, calls on President Emmanuel Macron to defend patriotism.

These soldiers denounce the "disintegration" which strikes according to them the fatherland and say they are "ready to support policies which will take into consideration the safeguard of the nation".

With AFP

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