Writing in the right-wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine, the signatories allege that Islamists are taking over whole parts of France, and have warned that “Laxist” policies would result in chaos requiring “the intervention of our comrades on active duty in a perilous mission of protection of our civilizational values”.
The letter, which came out on 21st April – the 60th anniversary of a failed coup attempt against the government of World War II hero Charles de Gaulle –Has been strongly criticised by the French government and Left parties, But has been endorsed by far-right politician Marine Le Pen, Macron’s most formidable challenger in next year’s presidential elections.
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| Charles de Gaulle |
The Fifth Republic is France's current republican system of government. It was established by Charles de Gaulle under the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958. The Fifth Republic emerged from the collapse of the Fourth Republic, Replacing the former parliamentary republic with a semi-presidential (or dual-executive) system that split powers between a prime minister as head of government and a president as head of state.
WHAT DOES THE LETTER SAY?
The signatories warn Macron, his government and legislators of “several deadly dangers” that threaten France, such as “Islamism and the banlieue hordes”, Referring to the poor suburbs around Paris that are home to large immigrant communities from former French colonies. “The hour is grave, France is in peril,” the letter says, and blames “fanatic partisans” and “a certain anti-racism” for dividing communities.
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| Christian Piquemal |
It speaks of an attempt to start a “racial war” by tearing down statues of French colonial figures and attacking aspects of French history.The lead signatory of the letter is Christian Piquemal, a former commander who was arrested in 2016 for taking part in an anti-migrant protest.The letter also criticises the government crackdown on the Yellow Vest protests, and accuses it of using the police as “proxy agents and scapegoats”.
It ends by saying, “It is no longer the time to procrastinate, otherwise tomorrow civil war will put an end to this growing chaos and deaths – for which you will be responsible – with numbers in the thousands”.
REACTION FROM GOVT
Government ministers have condemned the message, with the minister in charge of the armed forces, Florence Parly.Parly has warned that any of the signatories who might still beserving the military would be punished under a law dictating that military personnel have to be politically neutral. “For who have violated the duty of reserve, sanctions are planned,and if there are active soldiers among the signatories, I askedthe chief of staff of the armed forces to apply the rules…that is to say, sanctions”.
WHY IS THE TIMING SIGNIFICANT?
The timing of the letter is also significant, given that it was released on the anniversary of a 1963 failed rebellion against General de Gaulle, France’s President from 1959 to 1969.The coup plot was engineered by generals who wanted to keep Algeria, then a French colony, from gaining independence.
WHY THE LETTER MATTERS IN FRENCH POLITICS?
The far-right Marine Le Pen, who was also Macron’s main challenger in the 2017 presidential elections, hasbacked the letter, saying in response, “I invite you to join us in taking part in the coming battle, which is the battle of France”. She did, however, say that France’s problems, in which she listed “lawless areas, crime, self-hatred and our leaders’ rejection of patriotism” can “only be solved by politics.”
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| Le Pen |
Le Pen’s comments, which have been criticised by both Left and Right-wing parties, have come to the surprise of many, given her recent attempts at warming up to mainstream conservatives. Even some of her supporters felt that backing the ex-generals who speak of “civil war” would not sit well with voters at large. However, some experts say that Le Pen could have calculated that taking such a position would win her the support of a large section of French people,Who believe in the letter’s content but would not publicly admit it, especially given a string of terror attacks that have hit French soil.
IMPACT ON MACRON?
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| Emmanuel Macron |
It remains to be seen how this would impact Macron, who although in 2017 described his candidature as “neither right nor left”,Has himself adopted Right-wing positions since becoming president. He too, has blamed what he calls “social science theories imported from the United States” for harming unity in France. Earlier in April, the French parliament’s upper house approved a controversial “anti-separatism” bill to crack down on Islamic radicalism.
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