France has "underestimated the frustration of the Tunisian people"

Under the pressure of events in Tunisia, France has made a diplomatic shift late, which reflects the difficulty of French diplomacy to understand the revolt. The defense minister, Alain Juppe, admitted Monday, January 17, that France "has underestimated the frustration of the Tunisian people face a police and a crackdown." But as several officials of the majority, he hammered that "France's position, which is to say today: it is for the Tunisians to choose their future, a democratic future in free elections' , seems relevant.

" (Read the article: The turn of France, forced by events.) The president of the National Assembly, Bernard Accoyer, also said that "nobody could predict what would happen." "We do not have a political reading of events occurring in a sovereign and friend," he said. It is also retracted the remarks of Foreign Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, who had proposed a security cooperation regime in Tunisia in the Assembly, three days before the flight of former President Ben Ali.

"I would remind all those who are quick to criticize or lecture that no one, when the foreign minister replied, knew measure the impact of events, let alone what would happen," said M . Accoyer. The Minister for Industry, Eric Besson, who married a Tunisian, has joked about the position of the United States, which he said did not have to worry about the safety of their nationals, while the French are 22 000 Tunisia.

"It's almost easier for Obama to say 'Congratulations and good luck' but it is far fewer Americans in Tunisia and Tunisians in the United States. We, we are obliged to caution," he said on France 2. A line of defense that does not satisfy opponents of the policy of Ben Ali. The left has engaged in since Friday, a combined attack on the line of non-interference and a wait of Paris against the dictatorship of Tunisia.

It is indeed Michele Alliot-Marie, who is in the sights. The foreign minister has defended itself Sunday in the JDD: "There was shooting real bullets, death. For such situations do not recur in the future, so I said we were willing to help train security forces in Tunisia, as we do for other countries, law enforcement, ensuring the preservation of lives, "she said.

Michèle Alliot-Marie will be heard Tuesday morning by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on the situation in Tunisia. Segolene Royal has called his remarks "outrageous", "come in support of a dictatorship." A "serious misconduct", agreed the former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, accusing him of "insensitivity".

Former Minister Pierre Moscovici said he was "ashamed of our diplomacy." Environmentalist Cécile Duflot said it "should apologize to the Tunisians." The spokesperson of the NPA, Olivier Besancenot, asked Ms. Aliot Marie of "apologize or resign." Even in the majority, centrist Hervé Morin has distanced himself from statements by the chief diplomat.

Le Monde. en

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