Paris (AFP)

Gérald Darmanin denounced Monday a "crude maneuver" and the lack of "courage" of "anonymous people", facing the publication of a new forum in Current military values ​​calling for the "survival" of France where, according to them , "the civil war is brewing".

"These are anonymous people. Is that the courage? To be anonymous?", Quipped the Minister of the Interior on RMC / BFMTV, attacking the text attributed by the weekly to active soldiers , less than three weeks after the publication of a first controversial column signed by retired soldiers.

"What a funny, courageous society that gives voice to anonymous people. It feels like being on social networks," he insisted.

"I understand that when you are in the military you do not do this kind of thing in secret, on a small weekly basis," he added, denouncing a "rude maneuver" in the run-up to regional and presidential elections.

This column, published on Sunday evening anonymously and in the form of a petition on the site of Current values, denounces in particular "the chaos and violence" which strikes the country.

"We see hatred of France and its history becoming the norm," say the active military at the initiative of the text, which obtained more than 75,000 signatures just hours after its publication.

"Yes, if a civil war breaks out, the army will maintain order on its own soil, because it will be asked to do so (...) It is not a question of prolonging your mandates or of conquering them. others. It is a question of the survival of our country, of your country ", specify the signatories.

This text appears less than three weeks after a first forum signed by soldiers, including twenty generals, denouncing the "disintegration" of France and saying they are ready to "support the policies" that will work against.

"What is the code of ethics? How can we suggest that the army today would be animated by such feelings and by a desire to question the very principles of the Republic?" Asked the former president. of the Republic François Hollande on France Inter.

"There are now active soldiers who want to sign a forum anonymously. They are factious and cowardly. I am not afraid, I say my name and what I will do if I am elected: purge the army of its factious members, "reacted Sunday the candidate of La France insoumise (LFI) Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

"It worries me", admitted the boss of the PS Olivier Faure, believing that the left "had to think about all these threats".

© 2021 AFP