4/9/22, 8:31 AM Macron calls Polish PM 'a far-right anti-Semite' in row over Putin talks - BBC News

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Macron calls Polish PM 'a far-right anti-Semite' in

row over Putin talks
7 hours ago

REUTERS

The French president is facing a closer than expected election race

French President Emmanuel Macron has called Polish PM Mateusz

Morawiecki "a far-right anti-Semite who bans LGBT people", after being
criticised for his talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Mr Morawiecki compared Mr Macron's efforts to negotiating with Hitler.

The French president has held regular conversations with Mr Putin since the
beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.

On Friday, Poland summoned the French ambassador over Mr Macron's

comments, made to a French newspaper.

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4/9/22, 8:31 AM Macron calls Polish PM 'a far-right anti-Semite' in row over Putin talks - BBC News
"How many times have you negotiated with Putin and what have you
achieved?" Mr Morawiecki said on Monday.

Mr Macron defended the talks in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper.

"It's my duty to speak with him, we need it. I won't stop doing it, that's what
allows us to take part in the negotiation," he said.

"By talking to him and to [Ukraine's] President Zelensky, we can help in the
negotiation. At some point, there will be a ceasefire and peace will have to be
built. It cannot be done without a guarantor, France is committed to be one of
these guarantors."

It is not clear why Mr Macron accused Mr Morawiecki of anti-Semitism,

although the Polish government has faced international criticism for laws
making it harder for Jewish people to recover property lost during and after
World War Two, as well as one making it an offence to link the Polish nation to
Nazi crimes.

Mr Macron also said Mr Morawiecki wanted to help his rival Marine Le Pen in
the French presidential election on Sunday.

Far-right Le Pen closes in on Macron in French race

French election: A really simple guide

Polish move on Nazi-seized properties angers Israel

Opinion polls show that Ms Le Pen has closed the gap on Mr Macron, who
joined the campaign late and has seen his lead erode as Ms Le Pen focussed on
a cost-of-living message.

He enjoyed a boost from his diplomatic efforts in the Ukraine conflict but that
has faded, and he has tried to portray Ms Le Pen as someone sympathetic to
Mr Putin.

A Polish government spokesman, Piotr Müller, rejected Mr Macron's

accusation of anti-Semitism, saying he had gone "too far" with his choice of
words.

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4/9/22, 8:31 AM Macron calls Polish PM 'a far-right anti-Semite' in row over Putin talks - BBC News

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