MDL Victor François / DICOD / Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans
The new chief of the French General Staff, Fabien Mandon
French general causes controversy by warning of the risk of “losing children” in a possible conflict with Russia. Figures from both ends of the French political spectrum reacted strongly to what they saw as an alarmist approach by the country’s new military leader.
The general’s vehement appeal Fabien Mandonnew chief of the French General Staff, to the country’s mayors, so that they can prepare their citizens for a possible war with Russiawas quickly condemned by the main political parties.
During an annual meeting of French mayors in Paris on Tuesday, the general urged local officials to alert citizens to the need to “accept suffering, to protect who we are”.
“We have all knowledge, all economic strength and demographic to deter the Moscow regime”, said Mandon, quoted by .
However, he warned the new chief of staff, if France “is not prepared to accept losing their childrento suffer economically because priorities shift to defense production, we are at serious risk”.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosiwho is also vice-president of the Horizonte party, a supporter of Emmanuel Macron, classified the general’s statement as “shocking“, says .
Parties from both extremes of the political spectrum, which represent a significant portion of the electorate, reacted negativelyhighlighting the lack of consensus in France regarding the need to prepare the country for a war scenario, as well as the different assessments of the threat Russia poses to French territory.
Jean-Luc Mélenchonleader of the radical left and presidential candidate on three occasions, expressed his “total disagreement” with Mandon in a publication on the X network, stating that it is not up to the general “to anticipate sacrifices resulting from our diplomatic failures”.
Mélenchon joined Fabien Roussel, leader of the Communist Partywho accused Mandon of “warmongering”. Mélenchon’s Unsubmissive France and the communists were the only parliamentary groups to vote against a symbolic resolutionlast year, which authorized the sending of military aid to Ukraine.
Sébastien Chenudeputy of the National Regroupment of Marine Le Penstated this Wednesday, in an interview with French station La Chaîne Info (LCI), that Fabien Mandon “has no legitimacy” to make such statements and expressed concern that these reflect President Macron’s thinking.
Mandon, appointed this year to replace General Thierry Burkhard as chief of the French General Staff, I had already warnedat his first parliamentary hearing last month, which the French armed forces must be ready“within three or four years”, for a “shock” when it comes to Russia.
Many NATO countries foresee the possibility of Moscow attacking the Alliance in some form by 2030. Western allies agreed to a massive increase in defense expensesreaching 5% of GDP by 2035, but governments fear this means unpopular cuts in other areas.
Unsubmissive France and the National Regroupment, which, according to the most recent polls, could face each other in the second round of the next presidential elections, both defend France’s exit from NATO’s integrated command.
While Unsubmissive France wants Paris to abandon completely the Atlantic Alliance as soon as possiblethe National Regrouping admits waiting for the end of Russia’s war in Ukraine to do so.
