Macron accused in media of ‘racist, sexist and homophobic’ comments

London: French President Emmanuel Macron been forced to deny accusations by the respected Paris-based newspaper Le Monde of making racist, sexist and homophobic comments in private conversations with colleagues.

A report on Friday claimed Macron – who infamously branded former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison a liar during a diplomatic spat over nuclear submarines – suggested that foreigners were clogging up French emergency wards. It prompted a furious denial from the Elysee Palace, but the paper said that it stood by its story.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and former French prime minister Gabriel Attal, right.Credit: AP

In a two-part investigation, the newspaper said the president had complained the “problem with emergency care in this country is that it’s filled with Mamadous” during a discussion last year with Aurelien Rousseau, his then health minister.

Mamadou is a name popular among men originating from Muslim ethnic groups in West Africa. Right-wing critics in France say it should restrict so-called “health tourism” from foreign patients using its generous but strained health system.

The allegation followed a report a day earlier where he was also accused of sexist remarks about women opposition leaders and a homophobic quip about a former prime minister.

Le Monde alleged that Macron had dubbed the prime minister’s residence, Hotel Matignon, under Gabriel Attal, who is openly gay, “La cage aux folles”, a reference to a popular French play featuring two gay men. It was later adapted in The Birdcage, a 1996 American comedy film starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Attal was appointed by Macron in January and resigned after the snap parliamentary elections over the northern summer.

It also claimed he called Greens leader Marine Tondelier and Lucie Castets, who the left wanted to nominate as its candidate for prime minister, “cocottes”, a derogatory term for women.

“The Elysee strongly denies these reported remarks, which were not subjected to any verification by the presidency before publication,” a spokesman for Macron said. “This raises questions of journalistic ethics.”

Before the denial was issued, several left-wing politicians had strongly condemned the comments.

“These racist remarks by the president... are an insult to the Republic. It is an absolute disgrace,” Manuel Bompard of France Unbowed said on X. “I can’t wait for him [Macron] to go.”

“Yesterday we learnt of extremely shocking homophobic remarks made by the president about Gabriel Attal,” Tondelier said on X. “Today, they are sexist remarks. We are impatiently waiting for tomorrow.”

Greens leader Marine Tondelier and Lucie Castets.Credit: AP, Bloomberg

“Everything goes there [at the Elysee] – racism, homophobia, sexism. All locked away inside a gilded palace, far from the gaze of the French, who he lectures all day long,” left-wing MP Francois Ruffin said.

Macron was also facing controversy over a comment he made on Thursday while on a visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, which was devastated by Cyclone Chido last weekend.

When angry residents told him that they had no clean drinking water and demanded more aid, saying they felt abandoned by the French authorities. “I’m not the cyclone,” the president responded. “I’m not to blame.”

Some in the crowds that gathered outside the airport booed the presidential motorcade, shouting “Macron resign”, “You’re talking rubbish” and “Water, water, water”.

“Don’t set people against each other. If you set people against each other, we’re screwed,” Macron told the crowd in the Pamandzi neighbourhood.

“You are happy to be in France. If it wasn’t for France, you would be in way deeper shit, 10,000 times more, there is no place in the Indian Ocean where people receive more help.”

Officials in France’s poorest overseas territory have only been able to confirm 31 fatalities more than five days after the cyclone, but some have said they fear there could be thousands.

Macron has largely become a lame duck since he lost snap legislative elections in July. He appointed Michel Barnier as prime minister but the right-wing former EU Chief Brexit negotiator was ousted after a no-confidence vote.

He has since been replaced by centrist François Bayrou who, it has widely been reported, strong-armed Mr Macron into appointing him by threatening to withdraw his Modem party’s support.

with agencies

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