"France makes us ashamed": Jadot deplores the sale of 80 Rafale to the Emirates

Europe 1 with AFP 6:34 p.m., December 3, 2021

An already controversial contract.

The environmental presidential candidate, Yannick Jadot, deplored, Friday, December 3, the sale of 80 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates.

"France shames us when it arms authoritarian regimes which despise human rights and whose wealth has been built on fossil fuels", criticized Yannick Jadot on Twitter.

France shames us when it arms authoritarian regimes which despise human rights and whose wealth has been built on fossil fuels.

France will shine when its foreign policy is exemplary in the fight for freedom and climate justice.

https://t.co/sBNvzCJcZi

- Yannick Jadot (@yjadot) December 3, 2021

"France shames us when it arms authoritarian regimes which despise human rights and whose wealth has been built on fossil fuels", criticized Yannick Jadot on Twitter. "France will shine when its foreign policy is exemplary in the fight for freedom and climate justice," he added. "Bravo to Dassault, Thales and Safran for the sale of 80 Rafales," said far-right candidate Eric Zemmour, on the other hand. "It is a success for our entire defense industry which owes nothing to the EU or NATO, but everything to our policy of independence which must be preserved by strengthening our defense industrial base", commented on Twitter the former columnist.

"Really nothing to be proud of!", Instead tweeted the leader of the NPA and far-left candidate Philippe Poutou.

"It is scandalous. But in the image of a business and cynical militarist capitalism", he added, calling for "to prohibit the sale of arms and distribute instead drugs and vaccines for the populations of the countries from South".

Historical sales contract for 80 Rafales.

Really nothing to be proud of!

It's scandalous.

But in the image of a busy and cynical militarist capitalism.

We must ban the sale of arms and distribute instead drugs and vaccines for the populations of southern countries.

- Philippe Poutou (@PhilippePoutou) December 3, 2021

The value of the "historic" contract for the supply of 80 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates amounts to 16 billion euros, including two for armaments and "associated elements", the French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced on Friday. "With the United Arab Emirates, we are now sealing the sale of 80 Rafale planes and 12 Caracal helicopters. In confidence, we act together for our safety," said Emmanuel Macron in a tweet.

It is a "historic contract" which "cements a strategic partnership that is more solid than ever and directly contributes to regional stability", greeted Minister Florence Parly in a press release.