French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to Convene Political Leaders Amid Middle East Crisis

On March 11, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will hold a confidential meeting with various political parties and leaders of the National Assembly and Senate to discuss France's current threat level and strategic response to the ongoing Middle East conflict. This convening comes amid escalating hostilities, particularly involving Israeli-American military actions against Iran, which have been ongoing for seven days.

The meeting, hosted at Matignon, will include key ministers, civil and military authorities, and leaders of parliamentary groups. Notably, President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the Senate Gérard Larcher, and Rassemblement National President Jordan Bardella, who confirmed his party's attendance and highlighted concerns about rising energy prices, are expected to participate. Other invited political figures have yet to confirm their presence publicly.

This political consultation follows several requests from parties such as the National Rally and the Socialist Party for more transparency and communication about France's positioning. La France Insoumise (LFI) has also called for a parliamentary debate on the matter.

Earlier, President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation, clarifying that France is not engaged in the Middle East war, stating, "France does not participate in this war. We are not in combat and will not engage in this war." Nonetheless, France has deployed military reinforcements, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, to the region purely in a defensive capacity—to intercept drones and missiles and to secure essential maritime routes crucial to the global economy. Macron attributed the primary responsibility for the conflict to Iran and expressed concerns over Lebanon potentially being drawn back into war.

This upcoming meeting aims to unify France's political response and ensure coordinated efforts to protect French citizens and interests amid the escalating regional crisis.