On April 21, former soldiers, including twenty generals, denounced in a factious style forum published in "Current values", the "disintegration" of the country, suggesting that the army could take action.
This Wednesday, 8,000 soldiers had signed it.
Political outcry, support from Marine Le Pen, opprobrium from the left… The measures against the leaders will be severe, announces General François Lecointre.
How did you react to this forum?
GENERAL FRANÇOIS LECOINTRE
.
I told myself first that it was not of great interest, and then that its authors knew very well that they were taking a political bias.
I cannot accept this, because the neutrality of the armies is essential.
Finally, I was shocked to read there a call to the active army: it absolutely revolts me.
Do you know these signatories?
Some, yes, in particular the retired General Piquemal (
Editor's note, former 4-star general of the Foreign Legion
), known for his political commitments.
For the most part, these are people who left the military 20 or 30 years ago, whom my generation of officers did not know.
To read also "Civil war" and forum of ex-soldiers: who are the signatories?
Does this text reflect something about the military?
It in no way reflects the state of mind of the armies today.
The army is republican, it is not politicized, it fights every day for its country.
It is the image of French society.
Contrary to the fantasies that some entertain, she is very diverse socially.
This is the post of retired people, who have an offbeat vision of the reality of our commitments: I deny them the right to pass judgment on what we are!
It is an unacceptable attempt to manipulate the military.
If these people want to express themselves, let them do it on their behalf, without putting forward their quality of former soldier or their rank.
When one is a general in the 2nd section, one undertakes by statute to respect the duty of reserve.
The Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced a census of the signatories: are there active soldiers?
We are in the process of doing this census.
Today, there are 18 active people - including four officers - among the signatories, out of 210,000 active soldiers.
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I am not here to search the kidneys and the hearts.
I demand the utmost neutrality, I challenge my subordinates to know what my political views are.
The only flag we carry are the three French colors.
When you are in the midst of troops in action, in the Sahel, in the Levant, you can see that this is not the subject.
The military brings France to the world.
The domestic political dimension is less decisive in their minds than in other citizens.
Is there a rise in far-right radicalization within the army?
No.
There was a very precise follow-up by the internal intelligence service of the armed forces (
Editor's note: Directorate of intelligence and defense security
), further reinforced after the identification by the Mediapart site of about fifty soldiers suspected of extremism. right.
Of the fifty, there remained about thirty in the ranks which were the subject of advice of inquiry and sanctions up to and including deregistration.
Do you see in this column, published by “Valeurs Actuelles” on the 60th anniversary of the Algiers putsch, a call for sedition?
Absolutely not !
Algeria is not a subject of my generation, the fantasy of the putsch seems irrelevant to me.
There is not the slightest temptation of this kind.
When you know the French army, engaged in combat, in the defense of our country and its democratic values, it is absurd.
The text evokes a risk of civil war and an intervention of the army on national soil ...
The armies are engaged in operations such as Sentinel, or Resilience in the management of the Covid crisis.
But their priority is to engage in combat against an identified enemy, against Daesh terrorists.
Getting involved in the national territory as mentioned in the forum makes no sense.
Armies are not made to maintain order.
What sanctions do these generals in 2nd section signatories incur?
Radiation, therefore automatic retirement.
Can they be deprived of their retirement pension?
The law does not allow it.
We can withdraw the quality of general in the 2nd section, it is the radiation which involves the final retirement.
Such a general can be recalled at any time by the ministry, for a particular mission such as reinforcing the supervision of an army.
What will happen concretely?
I hope that their automatic retirement will be decided.
It is an exceptional procedure, which we are launching immediately at the request of the Minister of the Armed Forces.
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.
Beyond that, I challenge them all, in particular General Piquemal who has already been struck off (
Editor's note, after leading anti-migrant demonstrations in 2016
), the right to make political commitments by highlighting their rank.
How to prevent a Christian Piquemal, customary of the fact?
I am going to send him a letter to tell him that he is unworthy, dirties the army, weakens it by making it a subject of national controversy.
And what penalties for active soldiers?
They will receive military disciplinary sanctions.
We are currently studying with the chiefs of staff of the three armies the cases of the eighteen people concerned and the level of sanction to be applied.
My intention is for them to be stronger for the highest ranking and weaker for the lowest ranking.
I consider that the higher the responsibilities, the stronger the obligation of neutrality and exemplarity.
What did you think of the politicization of the case?
It pains me, it's a lot of ado about nothing.
The politicians, who take the risk of instrumentalizing the armies to make them an object of controversy, are doing the Republic a disservice.
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