Brief
Macron faces criticism for Gulf tour amid French unrest
Macron's three‑day Middle East tour was condemned as out of touch while France grappled with nationwide unrest and hundreds of arrests.
By Felo News Desk · Published
French President Emmanuel Macron continued a three‑day Gulf tour on Monday, stopping in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, even as France dealt with weekend protests that turned violent in several cities, according to the Independent.
What happened
Over the weekend, more than half a million people demonstrated across France over rising living costs and perceived failures in public services. In Paris, Marseille and Lyon, initially peaceful marches were overtaken by rioters, resulting in the vandalism of hundreds of buildings and the arrest of over 2,400 participants. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced “partial curfews” in response and blamed “ultra‑left” groups for the disorder.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that an Elysee source told The National the Gulf talks would focus on securing and diversifying energy supplies to limit the impact of the energy crisis on French households. The source also said the President would push for “stability and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” Academic commentary was included: David Lees of the University of Warwick warned the trip could be seen as a “condescending action” reminiscent of Charles de Gaulle’s 1968 Germany visit, while constitutional law expert Benjamin Morel said the tour might give an “impression of normality” but also suggest a “power vacuum.”
What was said
Macron was quoted in the article as saying, “We have an extreme‑left movement that is looking to create disorder, a very deep‑seated disorder in the country going right up to the presidential election,” attributing the statement to intelligence briefings. Prime Minister Lecornu said the far‑left was active in Marseille and that the city had imposed a ban on public gatherings after a brief storming of City Hall. The Independent also recorded Macron’s critics: Lees said the trip “may seem like a condescending action by a president who frequently appears to be out of touch,” and Morel warned it could “appear out of touch and suggest a kind of power vacuum.”
How it came about
The Gulf tour was announced by the Elysee Palace last week amid an energy‑price surge linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran. Earlier Felo coverage linked the unrest to broader cost‑of‑living grievances and highlighted the government’s call for calm after 2,400 arrests, as well as the president’s earlier remarks about exploitation of protests by political forces.
Key facts
- More than half a million people protested across France over the weekend. (independent.co.uk)
- Over 2,400 arrests were made during the unrest. (independent.co.uk)
- Macron visited Kuwait and the UAE to discuss energy security and the Strait of Hormuz. (independent.co.uk)
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced partial curfews and blamed ultra‑left groups. (independent.co.uk)
- Academic critics said the Gulf trip could appear out of touch and reminiscent of de Gaulle’s 1968 visit. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Macron accused of being ‘out of touch’ for Kuwait trip as France gripped by violence”
