"Europe Needs to Stop Interfering in Other Nations," Former French President Sarkozy States
The Spanish newspaper "El Mundo" chose this as the headline for their interview with the former right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy on the margins of his visit to Madrid last week, where he presented his book "The Time of Battles."
The event garnered modest media attention, but the content of the interview published in the aforementioned newspaper was the most profound compared to other coverages. The discussion touched upon Sarkozy's views on current major issues, including Israel's war on Gaza and his assessment of the West's stance towards it.
The headline reflects Sarkozy's significant acknowledgment of the EU's incorrect role in this war and other internal affairs of different nations.
"The Time of Battles"
Sarkozy's latest publication follows two previous parts of his personal and political memoirs, covering his presidency in France from 2007-2012.
His visit to Madrid at the beginning of last week was to launch the Spanish edition of his book after its original French version was released last August.
From Madrid, he headed to Morocco, where he presented his book in three cities, expressing his good relations with King Mohammed VI and Morocco. Conversely, he criticized President Macron's unproductive rapprochement with Algeria at the expense of Morocco, which has long been a strategic ally for successive French governments.
While Spanish media coverage highlighted the contents of his book, "El Mundo" went further, revealing Sarkozy's perspective on hot current issues, notably the EU's foreign policy, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and Israel's war on Gaza.
Though the interview addressed many intelligently discussed points, including Sarkozy's support for influential French cultural figures like the philosopher Alain Finkielkraut's views on Israel's war on Gaza, we focus on points particularly relevant to the Arab audience.
Systematic Demonization
During the interview, journalist Emilia Landaluce aimed to elicit "bitter" confessions from the guest, a politician known for his staunch support of French and broader European uniqueness, a fact underscored by the headline choice.
When asked about the future of the European Union amid the rise of far-right movements, Sarkozy expressed discontent with the systematic demonization of these leaders, urging all political spectrums to seriously reflect on EU priorities, which now necessitate focusing on internal matters, especially economic affairs.
Sarkozy emphasized, "Europe must understand the diverse reality of history and adapt to the cultures of peoples, allowing them to manage on their terms, according to their culture and history."
He pointed out that historical developments necessitate a rethink of international concepts and organizations, like the United Nations, criticizing its unchanged composition of permanent members in the Security Council since the mid-20th century, without any addition from Africa or Latin America, while we are in the third decade of the 21st century. Yet, he notably omitted any mention of Arab countries, not surprising given his reputation, which many of his peers dub as racist.
Alignment with Israel
Regarding Israel's war on Gaza, the interviewer queried about achieving a resolution satisfactory to both conflict parties. Sarkozy responded that France and Germany managed this post-WWII thro political and diplomatic work. Hence, the conflict between Israel and Palestine can only conclude through such efforts and global recognition of Israel's right to exist.
This answer is consistent with Sarkozy's statements towards the Palestinian issue, asserting in Madrid that France is "ethically compelled" to align with Israel. He justified this by citing Europeans as responsible for the persecution of Jews, propelling them to flee the continent, deeming it their duty to stand united against any attempts to "deprive" Israel of its geographical presence in the Middle East.
Grave Mistakes
This seemingly contradictory and potentially controversial stance was voiced by Sarkozy while flanked by Spain's former right-wing President José María Aznar and Madrid's Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, both known for their staunch support for the Zionist project. Intriguingly, none of the right-leaning attendees questioned the validity of his logic, especially when he also stated: "It was us, the Europeans, not the Arabs who committed the atrocities against Jews in the last century."
On another note, regarding the non-intervention of Europe in other nations' affairs, when asked about the EU's role in the Russia-Ukraine war, Sarkozy mentioned Europe erred gravely by vigorously defending Ukraine's right to join NATO. Instead, he suggested Ukraine should have remained a mediator between Russia and Europe.
When the journalist mentioned Turkey, as referenced in his book, as playing a similar mediating role between Asia and Europe, Sarkozy concurred but noted, "this doesn't entitle Turkey" to demand entry into the EU.
Though Sarkozy's character is not of significant political or media interest within European or even French circles, especially following his conviction on charges of financial corruption, like Spain's former President Aznar, who accompanied him, they continue to attract attention from a minority of right-wing followers.
