"Political Posturing": Macron Responds to Criticism of Syrian President's Visit

Sharply criticized by the right and the far right for receiving Syrian President Ahmad al-Shareh at the Élysée Palace, Emmanuel Macron denounced on Wednesday, May 7, the "posturing for political purposes" intended to "speak to electorates."

"It's the life of animals, and it will continue," the French president said ironically during a press conference at the Elysée Palace with the Syrian leader with a jihadist past.

"What I see is that there is a leader in place. He has put an end to a regime that we condemned and fought against, whose responsibility we know, and he is ready to commit. The first actions have led to results," he added, believing that Ahmad al-Chareh was "lucid."

Before this meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Ahmed al-Chareh, Marine Le Pen had expressed her "astonishment" and "dismay," describing the Syrian president as a "jihadist who has been through Daesh and Al-Qaeda."

The leader of the Republicans deputies, Laurent Wauquiez, stated that "we do not welcome leaders who are former terrorists and members of organizations that want to attack France," while Éric Ciotti, an ally of the RN, said that "the red carpet at the Élysée will be the color of the blood of the victims of Islamist terrorism."

Rejecting through his entourage any idea of ​​complacency ahead of his meeting with the Syrian leader, Emmanuel Macron asked Ahmad al-Chareh on Wednesday to "do everything possible to ensure the protection of all Syrians without exception, regardless of their origin, religion, faith, or opinions."

The French president also told him that he must "ensure that the perpetrators" of the recent inter-sectarian violence targeting Druze and the "massacres" of members of the Alawite minority in March are "prosecuted and tried."