The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashneko, "
must go,
" said French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with the Sunday Journal.
“
What is happening in Belarus is a crisis of power, an authoritarian power which cannot accept the logic of democracy and which hangs on by force.
It is clear that Lukashenko must leave
”, declared Macron, quoted by the newspaper.
To read also: Belarus: "We expect a lot from France"
The French president also says he is "
impressed by the courage of the demonstrators
" in Belarus.
"
They know the risks they take by parading every weekend and yet they are continuing the movement to bring democracy to life in this country which has been deprived of it for so long,
" adds Emmanuel Macron, for whom "
women in in particular, which parade every Saturday, command respect
”.
More than 90 people, mostly women, were arrested on Saturday September 26 during opposition rallies, an NGO said.
Possible meeting with Tikhanovskaïa
Regarding the role of Russian President Vladimir Poutine in the search for a solution to the political crisis after the disputed re-election of President Lukashenko on August 9, the French Head of State considers that we are still far from the mark.
“
It turns out that I spoke to Vladimir Putin on September 14, the day he received Lukashenko in Sochi.
I told him that Russia has a role to play, and this role can be positive if it pushes Lukashenko to respect the truth of the ballot box and to release political prisoners.
It was two weeks ago, we are not there
”, declares the French president, quoted by the newspaper.
Emmanuel Macron will make his first visit to Lithuania and Latvia from Monday to Wednesday, two Baltic states which hope for his support in the face of the political crisis in Belarus and Russian pressure.
Both the EU and the Baltic countries did not recognize his election and Lithuania gave refuge to the leader of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
The French presidency has indicated that it is “
not excluded
” that the French president will meet the Belarusian opponent in Vilnius.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told Le Figaro on Thursday that she "expects a lot" from Macron and hopes that he "is committed to helping us break the deadlock".
France is calling for a peaceful transition in Belarus, with the end of the repression and then by the initiation of a dialogue taking into account the will of the population, "
while avoiding the risk of greater repression, or even intervention by the Russia
”, recalled the French presidency.
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