French elections: Reaction from Africa

 

As the National Rally came first in the early legislative elections in France on Sunday, reactions are coming in from all over the world. 

In Africa, RFI interviewed Marc Ona Essangui, a figure in Gabonese civil society, and third vice-president of the Gabonese Senate, who presents himself as a great observer of French political life. 

He followed the election  with interest. He says that he doesn't believe Jordan Bardella and the National Rally will be able to implement their programme on immigration.

"These are populist speeches to get elected." 

"The French have expressed their desire to see France change," he told RFI. "It is the expression of the people and it is a sovereign expression. I think we must respect this expression. If the National Rally is in the lead today, this would simply mean that the French believe that the National Rally must lead France."

 France belongs to the French, he insists, so to him Africans should not have to worry about the results. 

"I don't think we are slaves to a certain vision between France and Africa, no, each country will define its policy. Africans should also know that 60 years after the independences, if we are not capable of providing the means to create structures, multinationals to exploit our resources ourselves, and make them available to those who need them, we will always be in this situation."