‘France is now the sick man of Europe’: Polish minister says Yellow Vest movement and Christmas Market terror attack make the country ‘a drag on Europe’
Polish foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz lamented the ‘sad’ situation in France
He said jihadist attack and Yellow Vest strikes made France Europe’s ‘sick man’
A French jihadist killed five during rampage at Strasbourg Christmas market
President Emmanuel Macron has made concessions to ‘yellow vests’ movement after weeks of violent protests
JULIAN ROBINSON
DAILYMAIL.COM
17 December 2018
France is ‘the sick man of Europe’ and its problems are hurting the region, Poland’s foreign minister has claimed.
Jacek Czaputowicz said the violent ‘yellow vests’ protests and last week’s jihadist attack in Strasbourg made France a ‘drag on Europe’.
Lamenting the ‘sad’ situation in the country, he told Polish television channel Polsat News: ‘France is the sick man of Europe, it is a drag on Europe while Poland is a bright spot.
‘The terrorist attack proves that something is not right in France, the protests over the past weeks, President Macron’s withdrawal of state reforms – it’s sad.’
French President Emmanuel Macron was forced last week to make concessions to the ‘yellow vests’ movement after weeks of sometimes violent protests around the country.
A French jihadist attacked the Christmas market in Strasbourg, eastern France last Tuesday, killing five people – including a Polish national who died of his wounds on Sunday.
‘If at the same time, you’re lecturing Poland, there is something not right. First you have to bring some order to your own country’ said Czaputowicz.
Czaputowicz’s comments reflect longstanding tensions between the two countries since the rightwing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government took power in Poland in 2015.
Most recently, Macron has been critical of Poland’s controversial reforms, which the European Union says pose a threat to the independence of the judiciary.
But even before Macron came to power in 2017, relations between the two countries soured after Poland called off a multi-billion euro deal with France’s Airbus to buy 50 of its Caracal helicopters.
Meanwhile, French security forces are ready to smother the centre of Paris with a ‘last resort’ chemical weapon in a bid to keep protesters away from key buildings, it has emerged.
Astonishing revelations about the debilitating powder – which can be spread across an area the size of six football pitches in just ten seconds – highlights the increasing desperation of President Emmanuel Macron ‘s administration as it faces up to a law and order crisis.
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