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Join on Telegram Rabat – During a visit to the High Atlas town of Amizmiz, French politician and leader of the La France Insoumise (LFI) party Jean-Luc Melanchon has criticized French media and the country’s foreign policy response to the September 8 earthquake that struck Morocco.
Speaking to the press from the earthquake-affected town, Melanchon said his country’s foreign policy “has not always shone with its sense of timing,” citing other tensions between France and Morocco in recent years, such as the 2021 visa crisis.
The politician also described French media’s attitude towards the North African country following the disaster as “totally disrespectful” and “excessive.”
Observing the mutual aid efforts being made on the ground in the affected regions, Melanchon was also keen to praise the disaster response, adding that the French “should learn a little” from Morocco.
He extended that observation to other European countries “which see themselves as a fortress,” adding that “we must turn the page on arrogance.”
Following the earthquake, many French media outlets criticized Rabat for seemingly not accepting aid from France, with many going as far as to question whether the North African country could handle rescue operations on its own.
This was followed by a video statement from French president Emmanuel Macron, who took upon himself to directly address the Moroccan people and in an attempt to alleviate some of the tension. However, the video was condemned by Moroccans who said that Macron had no right to address the Moroccan people.
These tensions came on top of already strained relations between the two countries, which have been exacerbated in recent years by France’s decision to cut visas awarded to Moroccans and its ambiguity over the Western Sahara issue.
Read also: Morocco Earthquake: France Has Crossed the Threshold of Tolerability
“There is no relationship between the Insoumis institution except with parties of Moroccan democracy,” Melanchon said in reference to the Sahara dispute, implying that his party does not associate with the separatist Polisario Front.
The LFI leader, who was born in Tangier, acknowledged the existence of “different opinions” within his party, but added: “I do not like being attributed positions that are not mine and that are not those of my movement.”
Melanchon came in third place in the 2022 French presidential elections, narrowly behind Marine Le Pen. He received the most votes from French citizens living in Morocco.
