Iran-United States War, Ukraine, Lyhanna: update on Emmanuel Macron’s interview

The President of the Republic discussed hot topics in the program “L’Evènement” on France 2 on Thursday, June 18 in the evening. The war in the Middle East first. According to the head of state, “many of the Iranian military capabilities” have been “destroyed”. “There was ambiguity from the beginning and it seemed that the objective might be what we call regime change. But we do not have a change of regime through bombings,” added Emmanuel Macron.

The President of the Republic took the opportunity to reaffirm the availability of France and the United Kingdom “to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz”, in particular by participating in security. Emmanuel Macron also said he was ready to participate in negotiations on Iranian nuclear power. On the Lebanese side, Paris intends to “help the Lebanese army regain control of its territory”, following the deadly Israeli attacks.

“In disagreement” with Benjamin Netanyahu, Emmanuel Macron called on the Israeli Prime Minister to “show responsibility and rationality” in Lebanon. The head of state also castigated the “new colonizations and acts which are absolutely unacceptable in the West Bank”.

Concerning the war in Ukraine, the President of the Republic praised the courage of the Ukrainians. “Ukraine is resisting with a valor, a capacity for innovation and military production which has amazed everyone since day one,” he indicated, specifying that he wanted to put “more pressure” on Russia, to “bring it back to the table of negotiations”.

On the French side, Emmanuel Macron took the opportunity to return to domestic policy. According to him, the French social model “must continue to be reformed”. “We cannot have lasting power” without “being more efficient in public spending”, added the head of state. “This will be the task of those who come after,” he said.

Finally, regarding the Lyhanna affair, this 11-year-old girl found dead in the Gers, Emmanuel Macron estimated that “our societies live in violence with unacceptable situations”. According to him, “if we want her to be fertile [l'indignation générale, ndlr]must be translated into useful gestures.”