Saudi Arabia’s appeal to French President Emmanuel Macron to upright an ‘Olympic village’ by Napoleon’s tomb, Les Invalides, has caused trouble for French politics.
Both radical left and right-wing parties in the country have opposed the proposal after a minister confirmed that Paris was looking at Riyadh’s request to install a national pavilion.
Olympic archery events are criticized to be held in the long Esplanade Park of Les Invalides. Some events will be held by the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Macron’s administration didn’t say anything about the Saudi proposal until Nathalie Serre, a conservative MP, demanded information in a parliamentary question.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that the government was giving it a sympathetic view.
‘Saudi Arabia is committed to respecting the security and financial measures of Les Invalides and that Riyadh was a significant defense partner. Several countries were setting up national pavilions in Paris for the games’, said Lecornu.
The move was criticized by two biggest opposition parties – the right-wing populist National Rally led by Marine Le Pen and France Unbowed, the radical left party of Jean-Luc Melenchon also criticized the move.
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