The German heads of government Olaf Scholz, Spanish Pedro Sanchez and Portuguese Antonio Costa implicitly call to vote for Emmanuel Macron against Marine Le Pen in the second round of the French presidential election, in a column published Thursday by the daily
Le Monde
.
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“
The choice facing the French people is crucial for France and for all of us in Europe.
It is the choice between a Democratic candidate who believes that France is stronger in a powerful and autonomous European Union (EU), and a far-right candidate, who openly sides with those who attack our freedom and our democracy
”, they write without naming them.
Reference to the war in Ukraine
The three leaders believe that the war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine "
targets the values that France and our countries defend: democracy, sovereignty, freedom and the rule of law
" and carries the risk of to
see “
borders redrawing by force, as (...) so many times in our bloody past
”.
“
Populists and the extreme right in all our countries have made Vladimir Putin an ideological and political model, echoing his nationalist demands.
They copied his attacks on minorities and diversity.
They share his dream of a uniform nation
,” they add.
“
We must not forget this, even if these politicians are now trying to distance themselves from the Russian aggressor
,” say Olaf Scholz, Pedro Sanchez and Antonio Costa.
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"
We need France by our side (...) A France which defends our common values, in a Europe in which we recognize ourselves, which is free and open to the world, sovereign, strong and generous at the same time
" , they assure.
“
It is this France that is also on the April 24 ballot.
We hope that the citizens of the French Republic will choose it
, ”conclude the authors of the forum.
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