French President Emmanuel Macron warned about what he called a "crisis of democracies," including in the United States following years of pressure and destabilization efforts.
During an interview, Macron was asked by CNN's Jake Tapper if the world leader was worried about American democracy. The French leader replied by saying that he was worried about "all of us."
Crisis of Democracies
Macron said absolutely hated lecturing people and telling them "I'm worried for you," but said that what is currently in jeopardy is what was built in the 18th century. He also warned of a global crisis of Western "liberal democracies" when asked by Tapper regarding the trend in nationalism, populism, and racism spreading in Europe and the US.
He cited one reason being open societies and being open and very cooperative democracies putting pressure on the people, potentially destabilizing them. Macron noted this is why they have to articulate respect for people's willingness, middle references, and all the progress made by democracies welcoming different cultures, as per CNN.
The French president said that it was clear that in the last few years, there has been increasing pressure on societies and it is at a point where different countries have a crisis in middle classes. Macron also noted that social media was playing a very crucial role in what is at stake.
Macron noted that social platforms have been a driver of "fake news" and "new relativism" that he called a "killer for all democracies because it's completely breaking the relationship to truth, and to science, and the basis of our own democracy."
According to the Republic World, talking about the recent developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Macron said that President Vladimir Putin is the leader who went to war and "decided to escalate" the situation with his European neighbor.
Russia's War on Ukraine
United States President Joe Biden echoed Macron's stance regarding Russia's Putin during his United Nations General Assembly address on September 21. The Democratic leader said that the world should see Moscow's outrageous acts for what they are.
Biden argued that Putin's claims of needing to act because his country was threatened were a false statement. The US president said that there is a contest between "democracy and autocracy" happening on the world stage.
During his address at the UNGA, Biden said that it was obvious that in the contest between democracy and autocracy, the United States and him, as the president, champion a vision that is grounded in the values of democracy. The US president asserted that his government is determined to defend and strengthen democracy at home and around the world.
"I believe democracy remains humanity's greatest instrument to address the challenges of our time," Biden said. During the assembly, Macron also called on other world leaders to act, saying there was a simple choice, war or peace.
The French president added that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had declared Russia's aggression illegal and called for the withdrawal of its troops, even as Moscow continued to advance within Ukraine, UN News reported.