The forum of soldiers who threaten to intervene in the face of “Growing chaos” which reigns in their eyes in France, published on April 21 by Current values, never ceases to make a stir.
After having already castigated on Sunday a “Irresponsible forum”, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, called for sanctions against the signatories.
“Regarding the soldiers who violated the duty of reserve, of course, sanctions are provided for, and I therefore asked for those who would be among the signatories reported, active soldiers, I asked the chief staff to apply the rules that are provided for in the military statute, that is to say sanctions ”, said Florence Parly, Monday April 26, on Franceinfo.
“Unacceptable actions”
“These are actions that are unacceptable”, insisted the Minister of the Armed Forces. For retired military signatories, also “Subject to a duty of secrecy”, sanctions are also possible, she noted. Florence Parly recalled the case of General Christian Piquemal, former general of the body of the Foreign Legion and also a signatory of the platform, who had been struck off in 2016 from the executives of the army for having participated in a prohibited demonstration against migrants in Calais .
The tribune, published sixty years to the day after the Algiers putsch, and signed by “About twenty generals, a hundred senior officers and more than a thousand other soldiers”, calls on President Emmanuel Macron to defend patriotism. These soldiers denounce the “Disintegration” who according to them strikes the homeland and say to themselves “Willing to support policies which will take into consideration the safeguard of the nation”.
Adding to the controversy, Marine Le Pen, presidential candidate of 2022, immediately invited them to ” to join “ to her. A call that has “Shocked” the Minister of the Armed Forces, who recalled that “The vast majority of the military, I would have said all until this weekend, defends republican values, ensures the protection of the French and the defense of France in accordance with the principles of neutrality and loyalty which is part and which is at the heart of their status ”.
“I share their observation”
The president of the National Rally (RN) said on Tuesday April 27 that she did not regret ” absolutely not “ his support. “These soldiers, they know very well how it happens when the politicians do not do their job, do not enforce the Constitution. At one point, the situation is so serious that we appeal to the army “, has explained on Franceinfo the candidate for the Elysee.
These soldiers “Come to say that the laws must be enforced” and “That the country’s situation is terribly worrying (…). The areas of lawlessness, crime, self-hatred, the rejection of patriotism by our leaders are elements of the nation’s disintegration ”, said the far-right leader. “I answer them that I share their affliction, their observation, and that these problems are solved by politics and by a political project validated by the French in an obviously democratic framework”, she added.
When the Minister of Defense threatens them with sanctions, she “Is in his role”, estimated Mme The pen : “She recalls that soldiers who break the duty of reserve may be subject to sanctions. “ But “The government puts a lot of firmness towards them”, lamented the head of the RN. “We would like there to be as much firmness with regard to criminality and delinquency which is rotting the existence of our compatriots. “ “Ministers do not have to get into the wheel of [Jean-Luc] Mélenchon “, leader of the Insoumis, who, according to her, “Puts a lot more energy” at “Hit the military” that “Hit the Islamists”.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon and parliamentarians from La France insoumise asked the Paris prosecutor on Monday “To initiate proceedings” against the authors and broadcasters of the platform.