The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has faced intense criticism from the left following his denunciation of certain aspects of the New Popular Front's program. This coalition of left-wing parties has proposed several contentious policies, including the authorization of free gender reassignment in front of a civil status officer.
During a visit to the island of Sein, Macron labeled the proposal to allow gender change at town halls as 'completely ludicrous.' He further criticized the New Popular Front as 'totally immigrationist,' arguing that their stance on immigration undermines existing laws designed to regulate it.
The backlash from the left was swift and severe. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Insoumise (LFI), described Macron's comments as 'unworthy,' accusing the President of being disconnected from the realities and suffering of the people concerned. Mélenchon questioned whether Macron was trying to pave the way for the far-right in the upcoming elections.
Environmentalist senator Mélanie Vogel also condemned Macron's remarks, accusing him of 'wallowing in crass transphobia.' Similarly, former LFI MP Clémence Guetté argued that Macron's statements were so aligned with far-right rhetoric that the extreme right no longer needed to campaign.
The feminist association Tous des femmes joined the chorus of criticism, accusing Macron of fueling 'transphobic hatred' akin to the far-right. Outgoing LFI MP Andy Kerbrat announced that the New Popular Front would include the policy of allowing transgender people to change their civil status upon simple request at the town hall in their program.
- President Macron's comments were made during a trip to the island of Sein, where he was attending commemorations for the appeal of June 18, 1940. His remarks were captured by BFMTV cameras and have since sparked a significant political debate.
- Macron's criticism extended beyond gender reassignment policies to other aspects of the New Popular Front's agenda. He argued that their position on immigration and secularism were regressive and detrimental to the country's regulatory framework.
