Enlarge image
Emmanuel Macron
Photo: Ludovic Marin / AFP
Emmanuel Macron's increasingly harsh rhetoric regarding the war in Ukraine has sparked strong criticism from the French opposition.
This is what the parties say:
"His belligerent attitude, which does not rule out sending French soldiers, is worrying the country," said the right-wing populist RN party leader Jordan Bardella following a meeting between Macron and top representatives of all parties at the Élysée on Thursday.
Macron has isolated himself internationally through his stance and is playing into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin by exposing intra-European conflicts, said Bardella.
"France's role is to define red lines," he added.
According to statements from several participants, Macron called for “limitless support” for Ukraine at the meeting with party leaders.
"The Ukrainians have never asked us for ground troops," said Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure.
"Instead of trying to gain prominence through provocations, the president should keep the promises he made to Ukraine, especially with regard to ammunition and guns," he added.
Green party leader Marine Tondelier described it as “worrying” that Macron spoke of “limitless support” with regard to Russia, where both countries had nuclear weapons.
"These are not topics that should be treated so lightly; that is irresponsible," she said.
Macron said in Prague on Tuesday that the moment would soon come when it would be necessary "not to be a coward."
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) reacted irritably and pointed out that there were “more pressing problems” to solve, such as the production of ammunition.
The week before, Macron had offended many allies at an international Ukraine conference by openly stating that he would not rule out sending Western soldiers to Ukraine.
The government later explained that it was not about combat units, but about training and demining.
Ukraine policy is currently playing a major role in the political debate in France.
The day before, Macron invited his two predecessors, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, to the Élysée to discuss Ukraine.
A Ukraine debate and subsequent vote is planned in both chambers of parliament next week.
Also in the background are the European elections in June, in which the right-wing populist party Rassemblement National (RN) is currently far ahead in surveys.
Macron accuses the party of, among other things, its proximity to Russia.
Former party leader Marine Le Pen was welcomed by Putin and her party received a million-dollar loan from a Czech-Russian bank.
dop/AFP