French President Emmanuel Macron recently lashed out at some of his ministers and the media‚ accusing them of lacking professionalism and spreading incorrect information. The outburst came after reports surfaced about comments he supposedly made regarding Israels creation during a cabinet meeting roughly a year ago
At a press conference in Brussels following a European Council meeting Macron expressed his surprise at the reactions to remarks he allegedly made. He stated‚ “I must tell you how astonished I was to read so many comments reactions‚ including from foreign or French political leaders‚ to remarks that I allegedly made without asking the question of what they were saying and what exactly I said“
The French leader firmly denied making any controversial statements about Israel emphasizing that Frances support for the country remains unwavering. He declared‚ “France has always stood by Israel. The existence and security of Israel are intangible for France and the French“
Macron criticized the state of public debate and media reporting: “All this is proof in essence‚ of a breakdown in public debate and a lack of professionalism on the part of ministers who repeated distorted statements‚ of journalists who took them up of commentators who did not dwell on the reality and veracity of such statements.“ He added that if reported words are “truncated and distorted“ theres no point in holding press conferences or answering questions
This incident highlights the challenges Macron faces with his new government which isnt fully under his control. After a crushing defeat in European elections about a year and a half ago‚ he dissolved parliament leading to legislative elections that resulted in a divided parliament. Macron subsequently appointed center-right politician Michel Barnier as prime minister despite his party finishing sixth in the vote
With roughly two-and-a-half years left in his term‚ Macron is struggling to maintain his influence over ministers from opposing parties and even his own camp. This recent outburst underscores the frustration heʼs experiencing as he attempts to navigate a complex political landscape and salvage the remainder of his mandate