A strict conservative French magazine announced to AFP on Friday that a group of active-duty French military personnel has requested to publish an article criticizing the "disintegration" of their country. This comes two weeks after the magazine published a similar article signed by military personnel, including senior officers nearing retirement, who are now at risk of facing sanctions for their actions. Jeffrey Lejeune, editor of the weekly magazine "Valeurs Actuelles," said, "This is a new article from active-duty military personnel this time. They thought of us because we published" the previous article. He added that these soldiers requested to keep their names confidential. However, Lejeune mentioned that the new article has not yet met all the conditions required by the magazine for publication, indicating that he is waiting, first and foremost, to review the final version of the article, which is still being drafted. He also noted that he is looking for a way to "verify" the number of signatories while ensuring their identities remain undisclosed.
"Valeurs Actuelles" had published an article on April 21 that shocked the country, signed by "about twenty generals and a hundred high-ranking officers and more than a thousand other military personnel," who called on President Emmanuel Macron to defend national sentiment and expressed their readiness to "support policies that consider the preservation of the nation." In their article, the soldiers launched a fierce attack on the "disintegration" they believe is afflicting their homeland, which, in their view, is manifested through a form of anti-racism aimed at creating a sense of discomfort and even hatred among groups. They warned that this "disintegration" leads, along with Islamism and suburban masses, to the partitioning of many parts of the nation into territories subject to doctrines that conflict with our Constitution.
Two days after publishing this shocking article, the magazine dedicated pages to a letter from Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party (the largest opposition party, far-right), inviting these military personnel to join her in the "battle for France." The soldiers' article sparked a storm of mixed reactions within the political class in France, with some interpreting it as a near-open call for rebellion while others viewed it as a healthy spontaneous movement. Prime Minister Jean Castex condemned the soldiers' actions, stating that they "contradict all our republican principles," accusing the National Rally party of trying to "politically benefit" from the article. Meanwhile, the Minister of the Armed Forces called for sanctions against signatories of the article, whether they are retired or still in active service.
