(Illustration) French President Emmanuel Macron visits the training center of the 4th regiment of the French Foreign Legion, in Saint-Gauderic, in the south of France, on March 12, 2021. The French president presented naturalization decrees to five legionaries during the ceremony .. – ELIOT BLONDET-POOL / SIPA
Eighteen active military signatories to a controversial column published in Current values denouncing the “disintegration” of France and saying they are ready to “support the policies” which will work against will go before a military council, announced the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
The 18 active soldiers identified “will receive military disciplinary sanctions,” General François Lecointre told daily The Parisian, by evoking “stronger sanctions for the most senior”. “I consider that the higher the responsibilities, the stronger the obligation of neutrality and exemplarity,” he insisted.
Cancellation or retirement
The generals in “second section” signatories – close to retirement but who can always be recalled – risk for their part “radiation, therefore retirement,” he added. “These general officers will each pass before a higher military council. At the end of this procedure, it is the President of the Republic who signs a decree of radiation ”, specified General Lecointre.
“I would like their automatic retirement to be decided”, he for his part noted, referring to “an exceptional procedure”, launched at the request of the Minister of the Armed Forces. Florence Parly on Monday asked for sanctions against the signatories, deeming their “unacceptable actions” and “irresponsible”.
“An object of national controversy”
Among the signatories, General Christian Piquemal, former boss of the Foreign Legion, was already struck off in 2016 from army officials for having participated in a prohibited demonstration against migrants in Calais.
“I am going to send him a letter to tell him that he is unworthy, dirties the army, weakens it by making it an object of national controversy”, indicated General Lecointre. “I challenge all of them (…) the right to make political commitments by highlighting their rank,” he added.
The tribune, published by Current values April 21, signed in particular by twenty generals, calls on President Emmanuel Macron to defend patriotism. These soldiers denounce the “disintegration” which strikes according to them the fatherland and say they are “ready to support policies which will take into consideration the safeguard of the nation”.