15,000 French are now settled in Argentina. The ties between Buenos Aires and Paris, especially cultural and legal, have always been very strong, and during the military dictatorship, which held the country with a deadly hand from 1976 to 1983, the French were among the victims of the regime. It is to them that Emmanuel Macron will pay a symbolic tribute this Sunday in Buenos Aires, as well as to those of other nationalities.
The French president arrived in the Argentine capital on Saturday evening where he has already shared a working dinner with the ultraliberal president Javier Milei, accused of revisionism in this dark page in the history of the Latin American country. This Sunday, before going to the presidential palace, the French head of state, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, will lay a wreath of flowers at the foot of the church of Santa Cruz, a place of remembrance of the resistance against the dictatorship. The Elysée sends “a strong message” to “say that France does not forget”.
Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon, French victims
In December 1977, several founding members of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who sought information about their missing loved ones, were arrested, tortured and murdered after meeting in this church. Among the victims were the French nuns Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon, who were kidnapped and then killed in a “death flight” of the dictatorship, thrown into the Rio de la Plata from a plane.
In all, at least 22 French people were among the dead or “disappeared”, “desaparecidos”, the official word to indicate the mass kidnappings carried out at the time against opponents, Peronist activists, trade unionists and their families.
The bodies were identified decades later, as that of Yves Domergue, the second Frenchman to disappear under the dictatorship, whose remains were officially found in 2010. He was buried anonymously in September 1976 in Melincué, a village located 340 km north -west of Buenos Aires.
Under Milei, the revisionist temptation
Emmanuel Macron is not the first French leader to pay homage to the memory of these victims. But the context has changed since Javier Milei came to power 11 months ago. The president, and even more so his vice president Victoria Villaruel, from a military family, are accused of revisionism by human rights organizations.
They prefer to talk about “war” against the far-left “guerrilla” rather than “dictatorship”, to put the responsibility of the army into perspective, and they do not hesitate to revisit the path of the junta in power in recent years: while opinion the estimate of human rights organizations is generally accepted to be 30,000 deaths, while Javier Milei speaks of less than 9,000 victims.
In July, six ruling party deputies visited Alfredo Astiz and other former soldiers convicted of crimes against humanity in prison. President Milei, however, distanced himself from this gesture. Astiz, a 73-year-old former navy captain nicknamed “the angel of death,” has twice been sentenced to life in prison in Argentina, notably for the kidnapping and disappearance of the French nuns. In France, he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment in 1990 for the same case.
A man deemed “insufficient”
The relatives of the missing French people were received at the beginning of November by President Macron’s advisors at the Elysée Palace. They asked the head of state to express to his Argentine counterpart their “concern” about the hypothetical release of Alfredo Astiz. “At this stage the judicial proceedings that led to the conviction of those responsible are not being called into question,” assures those around Emmanuel Macron, specifying that they do not want to “interfere in Argentina’s internal politics.
Jean-Pierre Lhande, president of the Association of Parents and Friends of Missing Frenchmen in Argentina, deemed the presidential tribute “insufficient.” ”What I have been asking for years is that a person be appointed in France for the search for the missing French people in Argentina and that Argentina appoint someone else,” he told AFP, underlining that time is running out because “the parents of the missing they are almost all dead.”
What role do international tributes play in addressing human rights abuses in historical contexts?
Time.news Interview: The Legacy of Franco-Argentine Ties and Human Rights
Editor (E): Welcome to Time.news. Today, we are joined by Dr. Lucie Bernard, a historian and expert on Franco-Argentine relations, particularly during the tumultuous period of Argentina’s military dictatorship. Dr. Bernard, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Lucie Bernard (L): Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
E: Let’s dive right in. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Buenos Aires to pay tribute to the French victims of the military dictatorship. What does this signify for Franco-Argentine relations today?
L: Macron’s tribute underscores the deep historical bonds between France and Argentina. Approximately 15,000 French nationals currently reside in Argentina, creating a unique cultural blend. This act of remembrance not only honors those who suffered during the dictatorship but also reaffirms France’s commitment to human rights and memory. It’s a poignant reminder that these ties are built on shared histories of suffering and resilience.
E: Indeed, the visit comes at a complex political moment in Argentina, especially with President Javier Milei’s administration. There are accusations of revisionism regarding the historical narrative of the dictatorship. How does this impact the memory of those who were lost?
L: It’s a troubling dynamic. Since taking office, Milei has downplayed the atrocities committed during the dictatorship, and his administration seeks to frame the conflict as a war against leftist guerrillas, rather than acknowledging the systematic human rights abuses that took place. This revisionism can distort public perception and undermine the historical truths that families of the victims have fought so hard to preserve.
E: You mentioned the specific victims, like French nuns Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon, who became symbols of the struggle against oppression. Can you elaborate on their stories and their significance?
L: Absolutely. Duquet and Domon were actively engaged in advocating for the disappeared—those kidnapped by the military regime. Their abduction and subsequent murder in 1977 highlighted the violent repression faced not only by Argentinians but also by foreign nationals who stood against the regime. Their tragic fates serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who dare to challenge injustice, and Macron’s visit highlights the importance of recognizing their sacrifices.
E: Macron’s wreath-laying at the Santa Cruz church, a memorial site for the victims, seems to serve a dual purpose: honoring the past and addressing contemporary political issues. What message do you think this sends?
L: By participating in such a public act of remembrance, Macron sends a powerful message of solidarity with the victims and their families. It affirms France’s commitment to remembering and confronting its history with Argentina during a time when there is a risk of forgetting. In a way, it acts as a counterpoint to the potential normalization of revisionism under the current Argentine administration.
E: It’s fascinating to see how history continues to shape political landscapes. As we look ahead, what do you believe is necessary for both France and Argentina to ensure that such narratives remain part of the public consciousness?
L: Continuous dialogue and educational initiatives are critical. France and Argentina must collaborate to promote historical education that emphasizes the importance of human rights and the lessons learned from the dictatorship. Moreover, engaging younger generations in meaningful commemorative practices can help maintain awareness and inspire commitment to never allow such atrocities to happen again.
E: Thank you, Dr. Bernard, for sharing your insights with us today. It’s vital to remember the past as we navigate present challenges, and discussions like these help keep the conversation alive.
L: Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we keep these dialogues open.
E: That was Dr. Lucie Bernard, shedding light on the important intersection of history and current affairs between France and Argentina. We’ll keep following the developments in this story as it unfolds. Stay tuned to Time.news for more updates.
