The president of the Republican senators in France, Bruno Retailleau, recently sparked heated controversy by criticizing France’s “perpetual repentance” towards its colonial past in Africa.
In a public statement, Bruno Retailleau took a position on the complex issue of colonization in Africa. He affirmed that colonization had been marked by “dark hours” but that there had also been “hours which were beautiful”, while criticizing the tendency towards “perpetual repentance” which, according to him, weakens France.
Retailleau underlined: “Colonization is of course hours that have been dark, but it is also hours that have been beautiful, with outstretched hands. » His remarks, made on Sud Radio, sparked an intense debate on colonization and its consequences.
Initially, Retailleau had mentioned Morocco’s “silence” in the face of the aid offered by France after Friday’s deadly earthquake, considering this as a sign of the failure of Emmanuel Macron’s African policy. He also linked these events to recent Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger coups.
In these three countries, a “form of anti-French hatred was expressed”, which, according to him, is probably an effect of colonization. However, he stressed that when he goes to Africa, he does not hear these criticisms, but rather the desire for a France that does not repent, which is strong and which assumes its history.
Strong reactions from several French politicians
Reactions to Retailleau’s statement were strong, particularly on the left. The First Secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, criticized Retailleau’s remarks by assimilating them to a paternalistic vision of colonialism: “Return to the time when the white man brought civilization to natives who had not yet entered History”, he lamented. He also joked about the role of the senatorial right in avoiding repentance.
For her part, the MP for Europe Écologie Les Verts (EELV), Sandrine Rousseau, vigorously rejected the idea that French colonization had been anything other than a “unilateral takeover of entire countries”. Members of the New Union for the Progress of Society (Nupes) also expressed their indignation, describing Retailleau’s comments as “ignominious” and “abject”.
The PS deputy from Guadeloupe, Élie Califer, condemned Retailleau’s statements, calling them “ignominious”. Arthur Delaporte used “objects” to express his discontent, while MP Boris Vallaud considered that Retailleau was part of “the finest hours” of stale political declarations.
Aurélien Taché, an environmentalist and former member of La République En Marche (LREM), directly targeted Bruno Retailleau by accusing him of contributing to anti-France and the happiness of Russian imperialism. On his X account (formerly Twitter), he sent a harsh message: “Shame on you, Bruno Retailleau.”
Retailleau quickly responded by emphasizing the importance of not hiding anything from the excesses and errors of colonization, while highlighting the positive aspects brought by France, such as the schooling of children and access to health. He also warned against manipulating history, calling it the worst way to build the future.
