His word was expected about many crises. Emmanuel Macron was the guest of the first issue of “L’Evénement”, the new political program of France 2, Wednesday, October 12. He answered questions from journalist Caroline Roux.
>> REPLAY: find the interview with Emmanuel Macron in “L’Evénement” on France 2
The interview was devoted to international news, but allowed the Head of State to be heard on the burning subject of the fuel shortage. The Head of State will also be the guest of the second edition, on October 26, this time to discuss French domestic policy. We summarize his main statements on international politics.
A willingness to continue talking to Vladimir Putin
“Whenever necessary, I will talk to Vladimir Putin” : Emmanuel Macron has swept aside criticism about his telephone interviews with the Russian president. Volodymyr Zelensky, in particular, accuses him of granting legitimacy to the person responsible for the invasion of Ukraine.
The President of the Republic considers that this dialogue remains necessary in the hope of a return to peace. “At some point, I hope as soon as possible, all the stakeholders will have to come back to a discussion table”, believes Emmanuel Macron. Negotiations excluded by Russia, but also by Ukraine. “Negotiating does not mean giving up”launched the Head of State to the address of the Ukrainians, setting as objective “respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine”. Earlier, he pointed out that kyiv wants the return “at the borders of 1991”including the whole of Donbass and Crimea, and not simply a return to the situation on the eve of the February invasion.
The announcement of the dispatch of anti-aircraft defense systems after the recent Russian strikes
After the salvo of Russian missiles that hit several major cities in the country, including kyiv, on Monday, Volodymyr Zelensky asked for help from his supporters to create a “shield” over Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron responded to it on Wednesday evening, as Germany and the United States had already done. France will deliver to kyiv “radar and systems with anti-aircraft missiles”, “in the next weeks”, assured the Head of State. They will serve “especially to protect them from drone attacks and missile attacks”. France had already delivered anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.
Emmanuel Macron also confirmed the announcement, made in early October, of the delivery of six additional Caesar artillery guns, taken from an order for Denmark. This would bring to 24 the number of these guns supplied to the Ukrainian army. The President of the Republic also responded to criticism of the small quantity of weapons sent by France to Ukraine, compared to other states such as Norway. “I have to keep some of them for ourselves, to protect ourselves or the eastern flank [de l’Otan]”he justified, recalling in particular that Paris has just reinforced the arsenal posted in Romania.
Faced with the shortage of fuel, a call for the “responsibility” of unions and companies
Service stations will once again be able to meet fuel demand “during the coming week”, estimated Emmanuel Macron, the day after the announcement by the government of the requisition of employees to reopen certain depots blocked by a strike. The crisis should end in “seven to ten days”, told France Télévisions the entourage of the Head of State. On the set of “L’Evénement”, this one said he had “a thought for all of our compatriots who line up in the middle of the night to find gas”.
The President of the Republic criticized the attitude of the unions at the origin of the social movement. “May the CGT allow the country to function”he responded to the announcement of the filing by the latter of a legal action against the requisitions. “I am for negotiation, not for blocking.”
Emmanuel Macron launched “a call to responsibility” at a time “to employees and the unions that represent them” but also “to the managers of these companies”which he recalled had made very high profits thanks to the energy crisis. “You don’t get to these situations when there’s only one side. It’s important that the management [de Total] get back around the table”as do unions.
The President of the Republic made no announcements, and he defended the timing of the government’s action. It would not have been possible to avoid the shortages by deciding to requisition the employees at the start of the strikes, he believes, because the company negotiations had not been successful: “You would have said ‘you are preventing social dialogue from taking place’. (…) We cannot replace everyone”. The requisitions are also limited, for the moment, to the Esso-ExxonMobil sites, because an agreement has been reached between the management of the company and some of the unions. This is not the case at Total. In this enterprise, “if the social dialogue does not succeed in the next few hours, we will requisition”he assured, however.
Support for protesters in Iran
“Very clearly, France condemns the repressions carried out today by the Iranian regime and we stand alongside these women” who have been demonstrating since September after the death of young Mahsa Amini, said Emmanuel Macron. He stated “his admiration” for demonstrators who challenge the obligation to wear the veil and the grip of the morality police.
France cannot intervene on their behalf, he believes, however: “We do not make the destiny of peoples for them. (…) Today, what is happening in Iran, we must defend it, say it, support it. We cannot replace it.”
Emmanuel Macron justified shaking hands with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raïssi on September 20 during a UN summit in New York: “Diplomacy is accepting to speak with people who do not share your values, who do not share your principles, with whom you do not agree”.
The promise to “not let go” of Armenia
Emmanuel Macron was also questioned about the new deadly clashes in September on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We will not let the Armenians and Armenians go”he promised, congratulating himself on having taken part in the negotiations between the leaders of the two countries in Prague.
He accused Russia, whose soldiers deployed there did not prevent anything, of working against Armenia: “She obviously played Azerbaijan’s game, with Turkish complicity“, says the head of state. “What is happening there is a destabilization maneuver by Russia which, in the Caucasus, seeks to create disorder to weaken and divide us all”.
The fact that several EU countries buy gas from Azerbaijan does not change the support given to Armenia, assured Emmanuel Macron: “Our values, our principles, cannot be bought with gas or oil.”