French President Emmanuel Macron.
Photo: REUTERS
After the attack on Moscow in France, a couple of months before the Olympic Games, the Vigipirate anti-terrorist plan was introduced, which raises the threat level of a terrorist attack to emergency level. According to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, two Islamist attacks have been thwarted in France since the beginning of the year.
To find out how ordinary French people reacted to the terrorist attack in Moscow, Komsomolskaya Pravda spoke with French political scientist, director of Russia’s Anna Institute, Raphael Auclair.
– Mrs Auclair, tell us how, in your opinion, French society perceived the Moscow tragedy.
– I can say that almost everyone was in complete shock and very much sympathized with the Russian people. Many political figures expressed great indignation at what happened. For the French, the attack was reminiscent of the terrorist attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris in 2015. This opens old wounds and brings the French closer to the Russians. There may be a silver lining, but after this terrible tragedy, even among those who had some fear about Russia, which is constantly fueled by the official media, many returned to more humane feelings towards the Russian people who found themselves in such a situation. .
Political scientist, director of the Ana de Russia Raphael Auclair Institute.
Photo: YouTube
– Meanwhile, in France the maximum level of terrorist threat has been introduced, how does society perceive it?
– We have dual feelings. On the one hand, there is sadness for the Russians and, on the other, fear for ourselves, because we understand that we too have already been victims and are potential targets of new attacks. After the attack on Moscow, the French feel very vulnerable to the terrorist threat, especially on the eve of the Olympic Games. There is great concern about the level of security, especially because there are many immigrants in France.
– What is the general attitude towards Russia in France now against the background of Macron’s belligerent rhetoric?
– To greatly simplify, there are three categories of people. The first are the French, who adhere to the traditional values of the educated intelligentsia, who gravitate more to the right, have remained absolutely faithful to their friendship with Russia and clearly understand all the reasons for what is happening in Ukraine. The latter, in principle, also understand everything, have sufficient knowledge, but are very receptive to the official discourse, according to the official media. Recently they have developed some fear and apprehension regarding Russia. Others, who do not know the context and do not have sufficient knowledge, simply absorb everything they are told like sponges and therefore oppose Russia.
– What do they say about the possible initiators of the terrorist attack?
– There are quality experts and there are complete idiots who at first even said that this was the work of the Russian special services. But this quickly died out, because this version does not withstand any criticism and does not find support in society. Some experts I know pointed out that the attackers obviously did not do it for religious reasons, but rather were carrying out an order. Considering that the group they come from is believed to have originally been created with the help of the British and Americans, it is possible that these countries are behind it. But for now these are just conspiracy theories.
