Between Emmanuel Macron and the conservative national government in power in Warsaw, relations have never been more cordial. In recent days, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the French electoral campaign, the incisive verbal exchanges have gradually increased in tension between the French president and the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki. They reached their climax when, responding to the readers of the Parisian, Mr Macron called Mr Morawiecki afar-right anti-Semite. The following day, Friday April 8, the French ambassador in Warsaw, Frédéric Billet, was summoned to the Polish foreign ministry.
On April 4, speaking about the massacres of civilians perpetrated by the Russian army in the suburbs of kyiv, Mr. Morawiecki openly attacked the French and German leaders, pointing the finger at their policy vis-à-vis Russia. “Mr President Macron, how many times have you negotiated with Putin? Did you get anything? There is no need to negotiate with criminals. Would you negotiate with Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot? », he had called out to him.
“Blend of Genres”
Asked about TF1 on Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron judged these remarks “both unfounded and scandalous”. Thursday, in The Parisian, the president had raised his voice by considering that “The Polish Prime Minister is a far-right anti-Semite who, in addition, fights LGBT people. (…) He supports Marine le Pen, whom he has received on numerous occasions. “Let’s not be naive, he wants to help him before the election”, he added.
A reference to the repeated meetings between the head of the Polish government and the president of the National Rally, in particular within the framework of conferences bringing together the leaders of European sovereigntist and far-right parties. During one of these meetings, on December 4, 2021, in Warsaw, Mme Le Pen was received with honors worthy of a head of state – alongside, in particular, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The group’s last conference took place in Madrid on January 29, less than a month before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Mr. Macron’s remarks may nevertheless seem surprising insofar as France holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union this semester. “This testifies to a certain mix of genres between the presidential campaign and the desire to stand out from Mr.me Le Pen, in view of the second round, and the obligation of reserve linked to the role of the French government within the Twenty-Seven this semester “, says an expert on European issues in Paris. Despite persistent litigation over violations of the rule of law by the ruling majority in Warsaw, the war in Ukraine has also brought Poland closer to its European neighbours. In particular, they are trying to help it cope with the massive influx of refugees on its soil – more than two million in six weeks – which the country is keen to welcome.
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