The director of the national gendarmerie, General Christian Rodriguez, has expressed strong disapproval of a National Rally campaign poster for the European elections. The controversial poster, displaying the slogan 'I am a gendarme, I vote Bardella,' was perceived as a violation of the 'military status' because it depicts a person in police uniform.
Sharing his concerns on social media, General Rodriguez highlighted that 'military status prohibits this type of message.' He emphasized the importance of respecting the gendarme and his status, especially during periods when their commitment might lead to severe consequences. The message was deemed 'inadmissible,' Rodriguez stated.
Upon inquiry by AFP, the National Rally defended the legality of their publication, arguing that the image did not show 'the face of a gendarme.' They stated that they regularly publish visuals representing various professions, including another poster with the message 'I am a soldier, I vote Bardella,' featuring a close-up of a person in French military uniform without revealing the face.
Further criticism came from Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who remarked, 'Respecting the Republic means NEVER exploiting the army which protects the Nation for electoral purposes.' The sentiment is in alignment with the Defense Code, which mandates that public officials must show restraint in expressing their personal beliefs, especially in written and oral forms.
According to the Defense Code found on the Public Service website, 'opinions or beliefs, particularly philosophical, religious, or political, are free. However, they can only be expressed outside of service and with the reserve required by the military state.' This rule applies to all forms of expression, underlining the importance of neutrality for military personnel in their public and private spheres.
The RN’s campaign also leveraged another visual featuring a soldier from behind with the slogan: 'I am a soldier. On June 9, I vote for Jordan Bardella! Against a European army which would cause us to lose a new part of sovereignty and against the sharing of our nuclear deterrent.' This poster, however, met with similar disapproval from Minister Lecornu, reiterating that the armed forces should not be exploited for electoral purposes.
- The dispute has highlighted the legal and ethical boundaries politicians must navigate when incorporating military imagery and messages in their campaigns. The controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a clear separation between military service and political activities to uphold the integrity and neutrality of the armed forces.
- The Defense Code plays a crucial role in ensuring that military personnel remain apolitical, guarding against any influence that could compromise their professional conduct. This protects the vital trust and reliability placed in them by the state and the public.
- This incident may prompt further discussions about regulating political campaign materials and scrutinizing how professions, particularly those within the public service sector, are represented.
