Rabat – Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has expressed his respect for King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people in a recent interview with BFMTV on Wednesday .
Sarkozy seized the interview about his new book “Le Temps des Combats” to express support to Moroccans following the devastating earthquake that hit the country on September 8.
He also highlighted his high regards and admiration for the Moroccan monarch, who he described as a “a very great leader.”
“I think I know the King very well, his Majesty King Mohammed VI. He is a great leader. He is a very great leader,” Sarkozy said, recalling his frequent statements admiring the Moroccan monarch.
Expressing his love for Morocco, he said that his feeling is shared by many other French people for “a reason I cannot explain.”
Sarkozy mentioned some of the reasons why he loves Morocco, including the “sun, light, and civilization.”
“I felt at home immediately in Morocco. I cannot explain why. It’s a country that I love,” he explained. “I love the nobility, the elegance of Moroccans, as well as their warmth, their hospitality, regardless of their social status.”
Commenting on the earthquake, Sarkozy appreciated how many French people were deeply affected by the disaster– stressing that the quake has affected beyond the French-Moroccan community.”
“It’s close to us, they are close to us,” he argued.
The former president has made similar remarks about the country and its monarch in the past.
In 2020, he described King Mohammed VI as a man of “high intelligence” and a “kind person.”
The monarch has several characteristics, including “power and strength which he inherited from his father, Hassan II, and the intelligence and humanity of his generation,” Sarkozy said, describing Morocco as “very lucky” for having a “king of this importance.”
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Sarkozy’s remarks come amid a hostile campaign many French news outlets launched against Morocco amid its humanitarian crisis.
While Morocco’s efforts have been fully deployed to tackle the repercussions of the earthquake, some French media have questioned Rabat’s capacity and whether the country will recover from the quake challenges without France’s help.
Many Moroccans have also expressed frustration after French President Emmanuel Macron shared a video message where he “directly addressed Moroccan people” to offer France’s support.
In response, many Moroccans lashed out at the French president, describing the video as a clumsy and impulsive move breaching diplomatic principles and protocol.
Many have emphasized that Macron had no right to address Moroccans, stressing that the only eligible person to make such a move is King Mohammed VI.
