The national secretary of the Greens has taken a position in favor of Kylian Mbappé after his remarks about Mao Zedong, while La France insoumise has chosen not to comment.
The affair took a political turn this Wednesday, October 28. Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the ecologists, published a long message on her X account to support Kylian Mbappé's remarks. The captain of the French national team had described Mao Zedong as a "dictator" during an interview, provoking a strong reaction from Chinese authorities.
In her message, Marine Tondelier stated that the player was right to make these remarks. She praised his freedom of speech and recalled the historical record of the former Chinese leader. Clear support, which contrasts with the position adopted by La France insoumise. When questioned on the subject, close associates of Jean-Luc Mélenchon preferred to dodge the issue, avoiding direct comment on the controversy.
This caution from the Insoumis did not go unnoticed. It comes in a context where the party seeks to maintain a balance between its criticism of human rights violations and its relations with Beijing. Several LFI officials have already expressed their admiration for the Chinese model, which makes their silence all the more notable.
On the sporting side, the affair has not disrupted the French national team's preparations. The staff indicated that the player remained focused on his objectives. But this controversy could follow Mbappé during his upcoming travels, particularly in Asia where he enjoys strong popularity.
Beyond the personal case, this debate illustrates the difficulty for public figures to speak out on sensitive geopolitical subjects. Between defense of freedom of expression and diplomatic caution, positions diverge. The coming weeks will tell whether this statement will have lasting consequences on the player's image and on relations between France and China.
In her message, Marine Tondelier stated that the player was right to make these remarks. She praised his freedom of speech and recalled the historical record of the former Chinese leader. Clear support, which contrasts with the position adopted by La France insoumise. When questioned on the subject, close associates of Jean-Luc Mélenchon preferred to dodge the issue, avoiding direct comment on the controversy.
This caution from the Insoumis did not go unnoticed. It comes in a context where the party seeks to maintain a balance between its criticism of human rights violations and its relations with Beijing. Several LFI officials have already expressed their admiration for the Chinese model, which makes their silence all the more notable.
On the sporting side, the affair has not disrupted the French national team's preparations. The staff indicated that the player remained focused on his objectives. But this controversy could follow Mbappé during his upcoming travels, particularly in Asia where he enjoys strong popularity.
Beyond the personal case, this debate illustrates the difficulty for public figures to speak out on sensitive geopolitical subjects. Between defense of freedom of expression and diplomatic caution, positions diverge. The coming weeks will tell whether this statement will have lasting consequences on the player's image and on relations between France and China.
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Source: Ouest-France