Macron faces backlash overheated exchange in Mayotte visit
During his visit to Mayotte, which had been affected by a cyclone, Emmanuel Macron faced sharp criticism from the island's inhabitants. At one point, the President of France used crude language.
During his visit to Mayotte, a French island in the Indian Ocean, Emmanuel Macron encountered discontent from the residents. The island’s community, reeling from the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, criticised the President of France. In conversation with the islanders, Macron lost his temper.
In a video shared by the service Brut on Instagram, Macron is seen responding emotionally to one of the residents. "If it weren't for France, you'd be in 10,000 times deeper s***. There is no other place in the Indian Ocean that has received so much aid," Macron exclaimed.
Criticism following Macron's visit to Mayotte
This comment was met with criticism. Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte, resulted in the death of 35 people, and the number of victims may be considerably higher.
Mayotte, as France's poorest region, grapples with severe problems, including water shortages and network failures. The island is home to many migrants, complicating the situation further.
Later in the meeting, Macron appealed to the residents not to turn against one another and emphasised that they are part of France.
Macron's visit to Mayotte sparked mixed reactions. In another video, published by BFMTV, the president is seen being booed and called upon to resign.
Mayotte, which voted to remain with France in 1976, is the subject of international dispute as the UN does not recognise French sovereignty over the island.
Macron's words drew criticism from various political circles. Sébastien Chenu of the National Rally stated that the president did not console the people of Mayotte, who feel they are being treated differently. Meanwhile, Clémentine Autain, a left-wing parliamentarian, described Macron's remarks as "colonial language unworthy of a president".
