Macron in hot water: Homophobic and racist remarks spark furious outrage across France Elysee Palace disavows accusations

President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of making racist remarks regarding the state of emergency care in France, a claim that the Elysee Palace strongly denies. 

The allegations come just one day after he was accused of sexist and homophobic comments, Caliber.Az reports citing material by France24.

According to Le Monde, Macron allegedly stated during a discussion with his then-health minister, Aurelien Rousseau, that the "problem with emergency care in this country is that it's filled with people called Mamadou." The name "Mamadou" is common among men from Muslim ethnic groups in West Africa, and the comment was included in a series of behind-the-scenes reports about the atmosphere at the Elysee Palace.

A spokesperson for the Elysee quickly rejected the allegations, saying, "The Elysee strongly denies these reported remarks, which were not subjected to any verification by the presidency before publication."

The accusations triggered outrage from several left-wing politicians. Manuel Bompard from France Unbowed (LFI) condemned the remarks as "racist" and an "insult to the Republic," adding, "It is an absolute disgrace. I can't wait for him (Macron) to go." Communist senator Ian Brossat also described the alleged comments as "damning."

Additionally, Le Monde reported that Macron referred to the office of former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal as "La cage aux folles," a term referencing a famous French farce about two gay men. The newspaper also claimed that Macron had called Green Party leader Marine Tondelier and Lucie Castets, a potential left-wing prime ministerial candidate, "cocottes," a derogatory term for women.

Tondelier responded to the report, saying, "Yesterday we learned of extremely shocking homophobic remarks made by the president about Gabriel Attal. Today, they are sexist remarks. We are impatiently waiting for tomorrow." Left-wing MP Francois Ruffin added, "Everything goes there (at the Elysee) - racism, homophobia, sexism. All locked away inside a gilded palace, far from the gaze of the French, who he lectures all day long."

The controversy intensified when Macron made another controversial statement during a visit to Mayotte, a French island in the Indian Ocean recently devastated by Cyclone Chido. He reportedly told the crowd, "If this was not (part of) France, you would be 10,000 times deeper in the shit." 

Greens MP Sandrine Rousseau criticized Macron for displaying an "arrogant attitude" and lecturing the people of Mayotte.

By Tamilla Hasanova