London: French President Emmanuel Macron been forced to deny accusations by the respected Paris-based newspaper Le Monde of making racist, sexist and homophobic comments in private conversations with colleagues.
A report on Friday claimed Macron – who infamously branded former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison a liar during a diplomatic spat over nuclear submarines – suggested that foreigners were clogging up French emergency wards. It prompted a furious denial from the Elysee Palace, but the paper said that it stood by its story.
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and former French prime minister Gabriel Attal, right.Credit: AP
In a two-part investigation, the newspaper said the French president had complained the “problem with emergency care in this country is that it’s filled with Mamadous” during a discussion last year with Aurelien Rousseau, his then health minister.
Mamadou is a name popular among men originating from Muslim ethnic groups in West Africa. Right-wing critics in France say it should restrict so-called “health tourism” from foreign patients using its generous but strained health system.
The allegation followed a report the day earlier where he was also accused of sexist remarks about women opposition leaders and a homophobic quip about a former prime minister.
Le Monde alleged that Macron had dubbed the prime minister’s residence, Hotel Matignon, under Gabriel Attal, who is openly gay, “La cage aux folles”, a reference to a popular French play featuring two gay men. It was later adapted in The Birdcage, a 1996 American comedy film starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Attal was appointed by Macron in January and resigned after the snap parliamentary elections over the summer.
It also claimed he called Greens leader Marine Tondelier and Lucie Castets, who the left wanted to nominate as its candidate for prime minister, “cocottes”, a derogatory term for women.
“The Elysee strongly denies these reported remarks, which were not subjected to any verification by the presidency before publication,” a spokesman for Macron said. “This raises questions of journalistic ethics.”
Before the denial was issued, several left-wing politicians had strongly condemned the comments.
