Another military letter warning ‘Civil War’ in France Surfaces

0
2114
French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo: IANS)
French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo: IANS)

Another military letter warning ‘Civil War’ in France Surfaces 

A letter signed by about 1,000 service personnel in France, including some 25 retired generals, warning President Emmanuel Macron that the country is heading for a “civil war”, came out on 21st April. The letter blamed that “laxist” policies of the government would result in chaos. The french government and president reacted with fury after a group of serving French soldiers published an open letter in the right wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine. 

After the government promised legal action against soldiers who had signed a letter, a new warning of civil war in the country has come to light. According to reports this time at least 75,000 people have signed the letter. The recent letter was published by Valuers Actuelles on Sunday and claims that the letter was signed by members of the military, which remains unclear. 

France Prime Minister Jean Castex told Le Parisien newspaper that the letter was a “political manoeuvre” by the “extreme right”.

 The lead signatory of the previous  letter is Christian Piquemal. Christian Piquemal, a former commander who was arrested in 2016 for taking part in an anti-migrant protest. According to reports the letter 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”.

The letter is important in France politics, because far-right Marine Le Pen is involved in this matter. Marine Le Pen, who was also President Macron’s main challenger in the 2017 presidential elections, has backed the letter. In response to the letter she said, “I invite you to join us in taking part in the coming battle, which is the battle of France”. As per the media reports some experts say that, this might have been  Le Pen’s effort to win her the support of a large section of French people. as the next presidential elections in France to be held next year.