French President Emmanuel Macron provoked a diplomatic scandal following a Nov. 4th interview with the media site “Valeurs actuelles" in which he seemed to insult Bulgarian and Ukrainian workers.
The government has been in a damage-control mode since then, answering to criticism both internally and externally.
"I prefer people who came from Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast] who are here and do the job (legally), rather than Bulgarian or Ukrainian trafficking networks," Macron said, triggering harsh reactions in Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Macron was referring to the fact that in France, it is allegedly difficult to find French people willing to wash dishes in restaurants. Many interpreted that France preferred immigrants from its former colonies, rather than from Europe.
After Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said the statement was “offensive," Bulgaria summoned the French ambassador to its capital, Sofia, to provide an explanation. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Macron, “will find it hard to achieve EU leadership with such unmeasured comments."
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned the French Ambassador in Kyiv. He reportedly explained that there were “no claims against citizens of Ukraine who travel to France” and that the President’s words were taken out of context.
[FULL STORY HERE]
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