It has long been said by some of Emmanuel Macron’s opponents that he is a president who ‘governs by fear’. It began with his management of Covid five years, when he imposed on France one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world. ‘We are at war’, he declared in a televised address to the nation on 16 March.
Now he is at it again, issuing dire warnings about the possibility of war just as America, Russia and Ukraine have started talking about peace. There is still a long way to go before the conflict in Ukraine ends, but the President of France appears pessimistic about the chances of peace.
Whether the young will flock to the colours is a moot point
To that end, his government has announced that every household in France will receive a survival manual in the coming months. The 20-page guide will explain what to do in the event of an armed conflict, a natural disaster, another pandemic or a radioactive leak.

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