French Socialist Party Condemns Macron’s “Hasty Shift” on Western Sahara

The French Socialist Party expressed its condemnation of the “hasty” diplomatic shift adopted by President Emmanuel Macron, regarding supporting the Moroccan autonomy plan to settle the conflict in Western Sahara, without consulting Parliament, reaffirming its commitment to a foreign policy that respects international law, human rights, and the freedom of peoples to self-determination.

Commenting on the French decision to recognize Morocco’s so-called alleged autonomy in Western Sahara, the Socialist Party said, in a statement, “Like all French people, we discover a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his enthronement, in which the President of the Republic decides to recognize the Moroccan plan for Western Sahara. Attached to Franco-Moroccan friendship, the PS condemns this unilateral decision without the slightest debate or consultation with Parliament”.

Aligned with the reactions of the French Communist Party (PCF) and Europe Ecology the Greens after the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Saraha by Paris, the Socialist Party (PS) condemned what it described as “a hasty diplomatic turn and without consultation with Parliament”. In a press release published this Thursday, the left-wing party cautiously said it was “attached to Franco-Moroccan friendship”, but with “concern about the consequences” of this turnaround.

“The PS expresses its concern about the consequences and calls for diplomacy based on appeasement and dialogue. While there is no emergency justifying such an announcement in the heart of summer, at a time when the resigning government is supposed to manage current affairs, the president is playing a communication stunt without a political vision that is part of the long-term”, the socialist party added.

The party concluded the statement by saying that “French diplomacy cannot be conditioned by Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming state visit to Rabat,” reiterating its commitment to a foreign policy that respects international law, human rights, and the freedom of self-determination of peoples.