The far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour “scrupulously” respected the conditions set for his visit to the French armed forces on Thursday in Abidjan, his Reconquest party said on Friday, rejecting criticism from the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
I want to salute the bravery of our soldiers, which is matched only by that of their elders who made France great.
pic.twitter.com/dU86daWbwl
- Eric Zemmour (@ZemmourEric) December 23, 2021
"It is perfectly normal that campaigning candidates can go to the armed forces and make their visit public to all French people," Reconquête explained in a statement.
"We have scrupulously respected the two conditions" fixed by the army: "Not to show the faces of the legionaries, to protect their anonymity (and) not to come accompanied by the press", specified the party.
"Avoiding a risk of instrumentalisation"
After his visit to Abidjan, where he sent a message of support to the French armed forces, the candidate posted on his Twitter account several photos of this visit to the soldiers.
An advertisement which annoyed the spokesperson for the Ministry of the Armed Forces, Hervé Grandjean.
1. Eric Zemmour's visit to our soldiers in Abidjan arouses reactions.
It is important to understand in what context this visit was authorized by the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
- Spokesperson for the French Ministry of the Armed Forces (@HerveGrandjean) December 23, 2021
“The rules are the same for everyone: discretion and sobriety,” he tweeted.
“This moral commitment that we ask of the presidential candidates was not kept today by a candidate.
We regret it.
These rules have a simple objective: to avoid any risk of instrumentalisation of the French armed forces, ”he continued.
Abidjan is home to the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (43rd BIMa), as part of a defense agreement between France and Côte d'Ivoire.
The battalion provides, among other things, logistical support to the French anti-jihadist force Barkhane deployed in the Sahel.
