French President Macron appears to distance himself from Rafale deal

With questions on the controversial Rafale deal refusing to die away, the pressure is telling on decision-makers both in the Indian and French governments. The pressure has risen particularly after former French President Francois Hollande’s statement that it was the Indian Government that chose Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence Limited over state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as offset partner for the ₹58,000 crore deal, and that neither the French Government nor Dassault Aviation had any choice in the matter.

Now incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron has appeared to distance himself from the decision-making over the Rafale deal, pointing out to media that he was not in charge at the time the deal was struck between the French and Indian governments.

In a video tweeted by ANI News, Macron says, “It is very clear it was government to government discussion. I just want to refer to what PM Modi very clearly said a few days ago. I don't have any other comment. I was not in-charge at that time and I know that we have very clear rules and this is a government to government discussion. This contract is a part of a broader framework which is military and defence between India and France. This one is very important to me because this is a strategic coalition and not just an industrial relation, so that’s my point. I just want to refer to what PM Modi said on this situation.”

Strangely, despite calls from the main Opposition Congress for PM Narendra Modi to answer questions of alleged favouritism and corruption in the Rafale deal, the PM has remained silent “on this situation”. This was pointed out by NDTV, which first reported Macron’s comments made to NDTV Associate Editor Amitoj Singh while interacting with media on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, underway in New York. “So I ask French President Macron ‘Did the Govt of India tell France or Dassault that they had to accept Reliance as India partner for the Rafale deal? Macron says I’ll refer to what PM Modi said a few days ago (except Modi said nothing),” tweeted Singh.

Indians, unlike the French President, are innocent of any statements made by their Prime Minister “a few days ago”, as per the French President. The only comments related to the Rafale deal that PM Modi made came on Tuesday, September 25 at an election rally in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, when he offered no answers to the questions raised by Congress, but accused it of throwing muck at him, indulging in lies and trying to form an "international alliance" to oust him. "So they are trying to forge an alliance internationally. Now will a foreign country decide who will be the country's Prime Minister?,” Modi had said.

It is unlikely that these are the comments that French President Macron is referring to. So, has the Prime Minister of Indian said something that the French President is aware of, but India is not?

Or is the pressure of domestic French politics, where Macron’s popularity is at an all-time low, beginning to tell on Emmanuel Macron?

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