PARIS: The government of French President Emmanuel Macron reacted with fury Monday after a group of serving French soldiers published an open letter warning that “civil war” was brewing over his “concessions” to Islamism, weeks after a similar message from elements in the military rocked the elite.
The letter, posted on the website of the rightwing Valeurs Actuelles magazine late Sunday, echoes the one published by the same publication last month but appears to have been written by an unknown number of younger troops still in active service.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, a close ally of Macron, condemned the second letter as a “crude manoeuvre” and accused its anonymous signatories of lacking “courage”.
But it was welcomed by far-right leader Marine Le Pen, seen as Macron’s main rival for next year’s presidential election.
In contrast to the previous missive, the latest letter can be signed by the public, with Valeurs Actuelles saying more than 160,000 had done so by Monday afternoon.
A high-ranking officer in military headquarters told AFP that the armed forces would not let the letter go without a response.
“A firm reminder will be made by the command on the respect of duty,” said the officer, who asked not to be named, adding that remaining apolitical was essential for maintaining the military’s credibility.
“One can have personal convictions but the armed forces are apolitical and have absolute loyalty to the elected president. If you feel bad you can leave the army with a clean conscience,” the officer said.
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