French presidential candidate: Meloni was brave, Macron was cowardly and powerless – video
Except for 6 people, more than two hundred migrants travelling on board the Ocean Viking ship have vanished, according to a politician of the French Republicans, who remarked that Italy's prime minister behaved bravely when she refused to issue permission for the vessel to dock, while Emmanuel Macron was cowardly and powerless.
The issue of immigration was the focal point of the televised debate between the three presidential candidates of the Republicans (LR) party, with special emphasis on the Ocean Viking chartered by SOS Mediterranee. The cargo vessel represents a milestone in French migration policy, as it’s the first ship carrying refugees to have received docking permission from French authorities. The case has sparked heated political debates. The right wing has sharply criticising the government’s decision, but the topic also featured heavily during the debate of the LR party’s presidential candidates. One of them, Eric Ciotti, highlighted that
the head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, acted extremely bravely and efficiently when she refused to allow the ship carrying migrants to call at Italian ports, while the French head of state, Emmanuel Macron, was cowardly and powerless.
Mr Ciotti stated that if he had been in a position to decide about the ship, he would have acted in the same way as Italy’s prime minister. When asked by a journalist if he would have let the ship’s passengers die, Mr Ciotti recalled that no one died in 2018, when Emmanuel Macron denied to grant permission to the Aquarius to berth in French harbours. It’s an endless cycle, with a growing number of ships and human smugglers appearing, Mr Ciotti opined, pointing out that the best way to save lives would be if no ships left the shores of Africa.
➡Sur l’affaire de l’#OceanViking
🗣️Pour @ECiotti, „#Macron a été lâche et impuissant”, au contraire de Giorgia #Meloni (…) „Le meilleur moyen de sauver des vies, c’est qu’aucun bateau ne parte des côtes africaines”
📺Explications dans #LeDébatLR sur #La26 pic.twitter.com/dxLsyoCmti
— LCI (@LCI) November 21, 2022
Eric Ciotti also mentioned that French residents are currently witnessing a mass influx of migrants, so the French should be free to decide who they wish to welcome, and who they don’t.
« Arrêtons le politiquement correct ! Les Français doivent décider qui, ils veulent accueillir et qui, ils ne veulent pas accueillir ! » #ElectionLR2022 #LeDebatLR #AvecCiotti pic.twitter.com/vCdANr0m8Q
— Yannick Neuder (@yannickneuder) November 21, 2022
Since the Ocean Viking arrived in the port of Toulon, debates have intensified. A CNews journalist provided many details on the exceptionally good circumstances in which the migrants were accommodated and catered for. He also called attention to the fact that the migrants were rather choosy, for example when they refused to wear the shoes donated to them by the Red Cross.
CE QUE DARMANIN VOULAIT CACHER !
Nous avons fini par comprendre pourquoi la préfecture ne voulait pas laisser les équipes de Jean-Marc Morandini filmer en direct les clandestins de l’Ocean Viking. Vous allez être surpris… pic.twitter.com/zFiDtEtYzC
— Stéphane Ravier (@Stephane_Ravier) November 16, 2022
Despite their quality welcome, most of the Ocean Viking’s migrants have already vanished and scattered across the country. First the minors, namely 26 out of 44, who left just one day, with the others following suit soon afterwards. Today, authorities know the whereabouts of only six of them, Europe1 journalist Louis de Raguenel has said.
Voici la source pour les 6 migrants de l’ #Oceanviking a ne pas encore être dans la nature . C’est le journaliste Louis de Raguenel sur Europe 1 qui parle. pic.twitter.com/FelenGIRKW
— Pierre Sautarel (@FrDesouche) November 21, 2022
French left-wing politician Segolene Royal also expressed her concerns about the disappearance of the Ocean Viking’s migrants. She said the youngsters travelling on board the ship are potential offenders who are likely to choose a life of crime, because they have no other means to support themselves.
Ségolène Royal sur l’Ocean Viking : « Tous ces jeunes adultes qui sont maintenant dans la nature, ce sont des délinquants potentiels. Comment vont-ils subvenir á leurs besoins ? Par la délinquance » pic.twitter.com/3MSvDDZu91
— Fdesouche.com est une revue de presse (@F_Desouche) November 21, 2022
Ms Royal wrote that the chaotic arrival of migrant boats chartered by NGOs must not be allowed, as the NGOs are accomplices of the smugglers.
Ségolène Royal sur l’Ocean Viking : « Peut-on accepter l’arrivée anarchique de bateaux de migrants affrétés par des ONG ? La réponse est non ! C’est impossible (…) Les ONG sont complices des passeurs » pic.twitter.com/s7Mz1w9CJV
— Fdesouche.com est une revue de presse (@F_Desouche) November 21, 2022
And indeed, a bizarre cooperation between NGOs and people smugglers does exists. In her coverage compiled years ago, journalist Francesca Totolo provided both photos and videos proving that Libyan people smuggler Abd Al-Rahman Milad, also known as Al Bija, transported migrants on his boat to the Open Arms NGO vessel.
🔴Questo video documenta la stretta collaborazione tra l’indagata per favoreggiamento dell’immigrazione clandestina, @openarms_fund, e la Milizia di Zawiya (Al-Bija),facilitatrice dei #trafficanti in #Libia (4 membri sono stati arrestati). @campsoscar #Zuccaro pic.twitter.com/WKuv5RbQ3z
— Francesca Totolo (@francescatotolo) May 24, 2018
Al Bija is a key member of the Libyan people smuggling mafia. He has spent a few months in prison, after the UN Security Council charged him with taking part in sinking boats carrying migrants, something we also reported on in great detail.