Nationalism risks a tragic path: French president
France
President Emmanuel Macron lectured Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on the evils of nationalism yesterday as world leaders gathered in Paris.
The French president delivered his warning at a rain-soaked ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe. More than 60 heads of state and government attended with only Britain missing among the first-rank representatives of the wartime powers.
With Trump and Putin flanking Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and the American and French first ladies, Macron said that ‘‘old devils are re-emerging, new ideologies are manipulating religions and history is threatening to return to its tragic path’’.
Speaking a month after Trump said that he was proud to be a nationalist, Macron added: ‘‘Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By saying, ‘Our interests first’ ... we erase what a nation holds dearest ... its moral values.’’
The world was threatened with ‘‘fascination for withdrawal, violence or domination’’ and future generations would hold our contemporaries responsible, he added.
The leaders showed no reaction as Macron rehearsed a theme that he has been sounding since he took office last year and later amplified at the opening of a World Peace Forum that was attended by most of the leaders.
Trump, whose early ‘‘bromance’’ with the French leader is long over, stayed away, though it was attended by several other statesmen whom Macron blames for the slide to authoritarian rule. As well as Putin, they include President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister. Macron’s words were echoed at the forum in northeast Paris by Merkel and Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general.
‘‘The concern I have is that blinkered nationalist views may gain ground once again,’’ Merkel told the leaders.
Guterres said that there were parallels with the start of the 20th century and the 1930s in the world today, ‘‘giving us grounds to fear that an unpredictable chain of events could ensue’’.
Earlier in the day world leaders walked along the Champs Elysees to stand by the tomb of France’s unknown soldier.
Trump and Putin arrived afterwards, each in his personal armoured limousine.
Putin gave a thumbs-up sign to the American president and patted his arm. The pair had earlier cancelled a scheduled meeting.
Despite intense security, two topless demonstrators from the Femen radical feminist organisation jumped a barrier when Trump’s car was driving up the Champs Elysees.
The US leader, who accused Macron of insulting the US when he landed in Paris on Friday, tweeted after leaving: ‘‘Beautiful ceremony today in Paris commemorating the end of World War One. Many World leaders in attendance. Thank you to @Emmanuelmacron, President of France!’’ – The Times