As of: March 12, 2024, 5:04 p.m
By: Lisa Mahnke
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Press
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Macron is taking controversial paths in Ukraine policy.
His government is met with harsh criticism in the French parliament.
And even Zelensky contradicts him.
Paris - On Tuesday evening (March 12th), the French national parliament will vote on the security agreement between France and Ukraine that was signed almost a month ago.
It includes up to three billion euros in support for the current year.
The vote is also receiving particular attention due to Emmanuel Macron's heightened rhetoric about the war in Ukraine.
The French president received a lot of criticism for his statement that NATO ground troops in Ukraine were not taboo.
“The escalation in which Emmanuel Macron is taking part is an irresponsible path,” criticized Jordan Bardella, leader of the right-wing populist Rassemblement National (RN) party on the
France 2
television channel .
In this context, he announced that his party, the largest opposition party, would abstain from voting in the national parliament.
The vote is non-binding and is primarily symbolic - and yet, given Macron's political shift, it is being watched from many sides.
Majority in France rejects Western ground troops in Ukraine war
According to surveys by the CSA Institute, 76 percent of the French population reject the potential deployment of French soldiers to Ukraine.
Overall, only 39 percent (minus 11 compared to June 2023) support continued economic and financial support for Ukraine, 43 percent (minus 9) support military support.
With his emphatic support for Ukraine, Macron is increasingly fighting against his own people.
Bardella rejected Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO, as well as the “principle of active deterrence.”
One must find the balance between support for Ukraine and escalation with Russia.
At the weekend, Prime Minister Attal accused the “Le Pen clan”
of its “weakness and softness” with regard to Russia, according to the
AFP news agency.
Criticism against Macron: Several parties want to reject aid to Ukraine
The agreement that was to be discussed this Tuesday (March 12th) was also criticized by other parties.
“The agreement has long been signed without the president asking anyone for his opinion,” said MP Arnaud Le Gall of the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI).
The LFI stated in advance that it would vote no and also criticized the idea of EU or NATO enlargement.
The French Communist Party (PCF) also said it would vote no.
All other parties will probably vote yes this evening.
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Shortly before the parliamentary debate, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu defended
the economic advantages of the agreement between France and Ukraine to
Le Parisien .
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is expected to introduce the text to the national parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
A debate and vote on the Ukraine war is also scheduled to take place in the French Senate on Wednesday (March 13).
Macron is supporting Ukraine - against the will of the majority of the population.
© Thibault Camus / POOL / AFP
Even Zelenskyj rejects: Macron's offer of troops is a NATO matter
Macron's current Ukraine policy is particularly criticized because of his openness to sending ground troops to Ukraine.
The Russian side accused him of wanting to get France more involved in the Ukraine war.
Rassemblement National chairman Bardella said during his appearance on TV channel
France 2:
“It is very interesting because Emmanuel Macron seems to want to be more Ukrainian than Zelensky, who does not ask about the intervention of French troops in Ukraine.”
“As long as Ukraine stands, the French army will be on the territory of France,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the French television channel
BMFTV
.
Only if Vladimir Putin were to attack a NATO state should these states decide how to react, said Zelensky.
“Your children will not die in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian continued.
Accordingly, NATO troops would be more likely to stay in NATO territory even if a Russian invaded a NATO country.
(lismah)