Opposition criticizes President Macron for using common 'nuclear umbrella' in Europe
(Baonghean.vn) - The opposition has criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his comments that France could use nuclear weapons to protect the European Union (EU).
According to RIA Novosti, earlier, in a speech on the future of Europe at the Sorbonne, President Macron said that the EU needs a common defense strategy. The key element of this is French nuclear weapons, which, according to him, will build the expected security guarantees in Europe, as well as neighborly relations with Russia.
President Macron's statement immediately drew criticism from domestic political parties.
"It's not appropriate for a president to say that," François-Xavier Bellamy, the leader of the right-wing Republicans' list in the European Parliament elections, told Cnews television. "Mr Macron said he wanted to start discussions on the joint use of nuclear weapons with European countries. This is extremely serious because it affects the issue of French sovereignty."
Thierry Mariani, a member of far-right politician Marine Le Pen's National Rally party, said President Macron had become a "threat to the nation".
"After nuclear weapons, the permanent membership of the UN Security Council will follow, which will also be given to the European Union… President Macron is becoming a threat to the nation!" - politician Mariani wrote on the social network X.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the France Undaunted (LFI) party stated: "The head of state has dealt another blow to France's nuclear power. He lumped everything together. Sharing nuclear weapons? Losing our sovereignty? This decision does not belong to the president but to the people."
The leader of the LFI faction in the French parliament, Mathilde Pano, told RTL radio that she "does not believe in the common EU nuclear umbrella." According to Mathilde Pano, France will not use nuclear weapons on another country, calling President Macron's proposals irresponsible and increasing the risk of nuclear war in Europe.
The head of the Patriots party Florian Philippot shared on social network X, calling President Macron a "traitor"; at the same time, he repeated the words of General Charles de Gaulle that "the defense of France must belong to France, France must defend itself, for its own benefit and in its own way, and if the defense of France goes beyond national borders, it will no longer be able to preserve the State".
President Macron has previously spoken out about the idea of a “common nuclear umbrella” for the EU. He has stated that Paris has a responsibility to protect the EU, pointing out that France’s interests are European in scope, which gives Paris a special responsibility, particularly affecting France’s deterrence capabilities.
