Faced with the chaotic situation in Afghanistan, Emmanuel Macron spoke on Monday August 16 from Fort Brégançon to deliver a solemn message.
During his televised address, the Head of State spoke of “
a historic turning point
”.
He also mentioned "
major consequences for the whole of the international community, for Europe, for France
", before announcing a joint initiative with the European Union in order to "
anticipate
" and "
protect
themselves".
against the significant irregular migratory flows
”which“
feed trafficking of all kinds
”.
Read also: Afghanistan: Emmanuel Macron wants to fight against illegal flows
Words that did not fail to react on the left. The MEP and candidate for the primary environmentalist Yannick Jadot, for example, said he was "
flabbergasted
" that Emmanuel Macron declares "
that the women, men and children who flee the hell of the Taliban are first of all a threat, 'irregular migrants', before being victims and potentially refugees
”. Julien Bayou, Secretary General of Europe-Ecology-Les-Verts also reacted strongly: “
And asylum? And these children, these women, these men who flee from horror? France must take its part. We need something concrete,
”tweeted the environmental manager.
A point of view also shared by the elected officials of La France Insoumise.
"
# Macron20h or how to stunt France in a fist of a second
", for example reacted last night the rebellious deputy Adrien Quatennens.
"
What a shame
"
Laurence Rossignol, former minister of François Hollande and close to Arnaud Montebourg, for his part denounced the "
cynicism
" of the President of the Republic: "
To qualify as 'irregular migratory flow' human beings fleeing the fascism of the Taliban, future teenagers victims of rape and forced marriages, women journalists, judges or mayors, tomorrow dismissed from their posts because women ... (...) What a shame,
"she tweeted.
Same reaction for Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, former Socialist Minister of National Education who regretted the “
words
” of Emmanuel Macron.
“
Has it become politics, at the same time tactical and icy, over and over again, whatever the circumstances, overwhelming?
», She expressed.
Emmanuel Macron's words even made former members of his majority jump.
On RMC, the deputy of Val d'Oise and co-president of the New Democrats, Aurélien Taché, said he was “
particularly shocked
” by the president's remarks.
"
We must offer to all those who wish to be able to evacuate them.
We must fulfill our elementary duty of humanity,
”he pleaded.
Afghan refugees at the heart of debates for several days
It must be said that the subject was explosive even before Emmanuel Macron spoke on this subject.
For a few days in fact, those among the commentators on the political life of the country who have not deserted Twitter in favor of the beautiful days of August have already been willingly splurging on it.
Commenting in particular on the figure, advanced Sunday by a Canadian journalist on the basis of Eurostat data, according to which 70,000 Afghans were expelled from European soil following the refusal to grant them asylum.
"
This policy shames our country
" commented for example one of the leaders of the movement of Benoît Hamon.
On the right, on the other hand, if the concern about a possible influx of refugees worried some RN executives or identity activists, the reactions were more discreet. Emmanuel Macron met with timid support from certain Republican executives, like Jean Leonetti who declared Monday evening following the Head of State that "
the risk of terrorism from illegal immigration exists and must be controlled
”. While, more cautiously, the deputy and secretary general of LR Aurélien Pradié, also president of the France-Afghanistan friendship group in the National Assembly, on France Info urged the head of state to "
welcome the Afghans in danger
" and even "
all those who have been supporters of freedom
», Making particular reference here to the former Afghan auxiliaries whose support to French soldiers during the intervention in Afghanistan risks attracting the vengeance of the Taliban.
“
Several dozen people are still there who have helped the French army and for whom we remain fully mobilized
” declared Emmanuel Macron on Monday evening, referring to “
interpreters, drivers, cooks and so many others
”.
Following journalistic investigations focusing in particular on the fate of former Afghan interpreters in the French army, Paris has often been criticized for its indifference to those who called themselves the “
Tarjumans
”.
Read also: "By abandoning its Afghan interpreters, France has betrayed its honor"
Further to the right finally, the National Gathering remained sober as to the migratory dimension of the geopolitical recomposition in the region, only mentioning in a press release "
the prospect of new waves of immigration
", while the main criticisms of Marine Le Pen in vis-à-vis Emmanuel Macron were firstly aimed at his "
diplomatic non-existence
".
So leaving it to the party's backers to worry more explicitly about the risk of uncontrolled immigration and the importation of a new terrorist threat on French soil.