Crisis with Mali invites himself in presidential campaign

From the left to the far right, the Elysee candidates seize the subject, sometimes a certain improvisation.

An election at the Elysée is probably not gained thanks to the international component. But the good knowledge of foreign files makes it possible to build a stature of head of state. Candidates know it and that’s why they are so quick to give their opinion on tensions in Mali.

After the death, January 22, of Alexander Martin, 53 ^E Soldier killed in Mali since 2013, the strategy of France in Sahel has established itself in the debate. The announcement by the junta, Monday, the expulsion of the French ambassador to Bamako, pushed candidates to position themselves further. With, sometimes, some improvisation.

Interrogated Wednesday on CNews , Valérie Pécresse A deploor that the head of state does not use the strong way in return. In these circumstances, “What is the Ambassador of Mali still in France?”, Asked the party candidate the Republicans. Marine Le Pen had the same reflex, Monday, stating that he “should already be in the plane” towards Bamako. The two candidates seemed to be ignored that Mali has no more ambassador in France since February 2020, but a trader, after a diplomatic incident linked to the “Barkhane” operation. “The important thing is to learn about these files before taking lamentative words in a politician and electoralist logic,” said Gabriel Attal, spokesman of the Government, at the exit of the Council of Ministers.

Candidates @vpecresse @mlp_officiel asking us to return the Ambassador of Mali to France … He left … https://t.co/xjwbtxpnpo
– Gabrielattal (@Gabriel Attal)

Anne Hidalgo stands out from the left

The President of the Ile-de-France region has also estimated that we do not have a vocation to stay in a country that does not want us “and that the question of the maintenance of France in Mali was” clearly asked “, without questioning the presence of soldiers on the spot. “We have to stay at the Sahel to protect this territory from the Islamist threat that can destabilize Africa. The destiny of Africa and that of Europe are completely linked,” said M ^me Pécresse Monday, while speaking of “humiliation” of France after the announcement of the deportation of Bamako of the diplomat.

On the far right, Eric Zemmour brought out: “We are fighting to expel the jihadists of Mali, but Mali expels our ambassador. Our soldiers die for a country that humbles us! All the African policy of France is to rethink, “he said on Twitter. His Marine Le Pen competitor stated that “France lost a mad influence in Africa”. According to her, the behavior of the junta in power must arouse “an extremely firm answer”. She proposed, for example, to “put an end to international aid” to this country of about 20 million inhabitants.

For all that, France must stop the operation “Barkhane”? “If the Malian government wishes to appeal to other states (such as Russia) to secure its defense, it is its sovereignty,” she said. A position also envisaged by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the candidate of France unsuitable: “All this is very badly engaged and we must withdraw from there.” Fabien Roussel, the candidate of the Communist Party, is also favorable to a “progressive exit” “French forces of Mali.

Yannick Jadot, the ecologist candidate, also advocated the “decline of our soldiers on other countries” and desired that the military present in Mali are maintained “in the camps, the barracks”. For its part, the Socialist Anne Hidalgo stands out on the left as she asked that “France regains the path of dialogue”. She “must do everything to maintain” Barkhane “in Mali but not alone. (…) We must maintain this with Europe and complement this military operation by a policy of accompanying development,” says the mayor of Paris. ” / p>
The Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Wednesday a parliamentary debate on this subject. “Parliament obviously deserves to be perfectly informed”.

/Media reports.