In his speech on Ukraine, the head of state assured that his “compass” would always be to “protect” the French. Despite the war, he promised that the presidential campaign would allow a “democratic debate”.
Le Monde
“We are not at war with Russia”, but … in his speech on the invasion of the ukraine pronounced from the Elysee Wednesday, March 2, Emmanuel Macron warned that, because of the penalties. Decided against Moscow, “Number of economic sectors [AIE] NT and [were going] to suffer, either because they depend on imports of raw material from Russia or Ukraine, either because they export to these countries”.
The price of gasoline, gas, heating and raw materials being expected to increase, the head of state said he has and will not “only a compass”: ” Protect yourself. “” We will support the most exposed sectors by looking for new suppliers, new business opportunities, “he detailed, recalling to have asked the Prime Minister Jean Castex, to develop for the next few days. Economic and social resilience plan “.
A” Change of time “
“But do not we deceive, he added, these events will not only have immediate consequences [for a few weeks], they are the signal of a change of time”:
The war in Europe no longer belongs to our history books. (…) Democracy is no longer considered an indisputable diet, it is called into question before our eyes. Our freedom, that of our children, is no longer an acquis. She is more than ever a system of courage, a fight every moment.
In the face of the challenge, the president intends to “amplify” the investment in French defense, but he also intends to support the economy, research and innovation, in a “independence strategy”: “we can not More depend on others, including Russian gas. I will defend a European energy independence strategy. “On this subject, Emmanuel Macron will bring together the heads of state and the European government on March 10 and 11 at Versailles.
The presidential campaign will take place
less than forty days of the first round of the presidential election, “this war is also hitting our democratic life and the campaign that is officially opened at the end of this week,” Macron said, who does not still has not officially declared a candidate for his own succession. “This campaign will allow a significant democratic debate for the nation, but which will not prevent us from meeting on the essentials,” he said, while several candidates declared to the Elysee deplore a debate retracted first by The health crisis, then by the war in Ukraine.
Concerning the humanitarian chapter, while “hundreds of thousands of refugees flee towards Moldova, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and gradually the rest of Europe”, Emmanuel Macron has repeated that France “will take his part” to welcome them.
As for the situation on the ground, he felt that “the days coming are likely to be more and more harsh” for Ukrainian resistance. He addressed the President of the Country, Volodymyr Zelenski, the “fraternal support of France”, and held again Vladimir Putin for only responsible for the crisis: “it is alone, deliberately,” that this one “Chose the war”. “Russia is not assaulted, it is the aggressor. (…) This war is the fruit of a spirit of revenge born from a revisionist reading of the history of Europe.”
However, “I chose to stay in touch, and will remain in contact as much as I can and as much as necessary, with President Putin”, to “prevent the enlargement and contagion of the conflict”, a- he specified, taking care to distinguish the Russian leader of his people:
We are not at war against Russia, we all know what binds us to this great European people. Today we are alongside all the Russians who, refusing that unworthy war be carried out on their behalf, have the spirit, the responsibility and the courage to defend the peace and who make him know.