Blame it on the rain, the traditional reception in honor of the armies, on the eve of the July 14 parade, was not held at the ministry, in the gardens of the Hôtel de Brienne.
The guests had to retreat, dry, to the Circle of Armies in the 8th arrondissement.
There, on the eve of the last national holiday ceremony of his five-year term, the Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, addressed the soldiers by mixing seriousness, humility and thanks.
The president praised the "
soul
" of the military and the feats they achieve.
Read also: The new military platform agitates the political class
In this ode to the army, he also evoked the tribune of the generals, published in
Current values
in the spring, and which had hit the headlines. Some retired generals, some close to the extreme right, were severely moved by a "
disintegration of France
". Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, on the two opposite sides of the political spectrum, had seized the debate. The military's duty of reserve had been called into question. “
The military are an integral part of society. The military status does not prevent the military from being crossed by the same aspirations as their fellow citizens
", agreed Emmanuel Macron before a call to order:"
Let us be clear: freedom of opinion is integral. But the greatness of their condition is to distinguish themselves from their fellow citizens by entering the public debate only under conditions. In our democracy, it is not possible that soldiers expressing themselves as such let think that the institution they serve can enter into the ideological debate, into partisan enlistment, into political confrontation
”, a- he insisted, thanking the Minister of the Armed Forces and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces for having called the signatories to order. "
Defending this fundamental rule is to defend the army itself and the bond of trust between the army and the nation,"
he said.
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"Dead for the service of the Republic"
In his speech, the Head of State congratulated himself on having defended the special status of the military, including in the face of European provisions that he himself "
does not understand
". He was referring in particular to the working time directive which threatens to disrupt the operational structure of the army. He also paid tribute to the memory of soldiers who died for France or during their service. The President of the Republic has announced the creation of a new mention, "
died for the service of the Republic
" which will better protect bereaved families when a soldier dies "
in exceptional circumstances
", in the performance of his
duty.
job.
"In our democracy, it is not possible that soldiers expressing themselves as such let think that the institution they serve can enter into the ideological debate, into partisan enlistment"
Emmanuel Macron
After discussing France's military operations, including Operation Barkhane which will end as such in the first quarter of 2022, Emmanuel Macron spoke directly to the generals in front of him, to those who are leaving, such as General Lavigne who will take a NATO command at the start of the school year, and those who will move up the ranks, like General Burkhard, who is about to become Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces in a week, or like Generals Schill and Mille , who will become respectively Chief of Staff of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
To read also: Tribune of former soldiers: do the signatories risk sanctions?
The armies "
have leaders
", he said in a sentence which seemed to echo the "
I am your leader
" abruptly launched in July 2017. The salvo had led to the resignation of General de Villiers and the appointment of General Lecointre . "
You have been at my side for four years
", the President of the Republic reminded him, "
and you are leading the armies on the path to reparation
". In a few words to paint his portrait, Emmanuel Macron greeted the military, experienced in operations, and "
the thinker"
: "
Thank you for this contribution which sheds light on our vision
", insisted the Head of State, praising the "
deep and disinterested
From General Lecointre. In a strong burst of humility, evoking a "
debt to [his] place
", Emmanuel Macron thanked his chief of staff.