A video of French President Emmanuel Macron hiding a white pouch of one thing went viral with wild claims that it was a cocaine pouch. However French media slammed the social media rumors and referred to as them ‘absurd conspiracies’.The video was taken when Macron was on a practice heading to Ukraine. However he was not alone; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had been additionally there.
How did the rumor begin?
Based on a report by Turkiye Right this moment, the hearsay began by Russia’s overseas ministry. Russian overseas ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova not directly alleged that Macron, Merz and Starmer shared medicine throughout their latest go to to Ukraine. The three leaders arrived in Kyiv on Friday to attend a collection of high-level conferences and so they traveled collectively from Poland — which is a customary route for Western dignitaries. The small pouch in query has been noticed in lots of images taken by the media on the practice. However Macron discreetly eliminated the pouch, however there was a white object in entrance of Merz. Social media customers referred to as it the cocaine spoon.Zakharova referenced the footage in a Telegram publish, suggesting that “a Frenchman, an Englishman, and a German” had used cocaine and did not take away the paraphernalia earlier than journalists arrived. Zakharova’s assertion additionally focused Zelenskyy, describing him as an “unstable cocaine addict.” She claimed {that a} Western diplomat as soon as instructed her drug use amongst European leaders was thought of “regular.”
French media slams viral claims
French media Liberation stated it was truly a handkerchief, which could be seen in high-quality images and the thing in entrance of Merz might be a toothpick or a stirrer. “These conspiracy accusations match with the narrative that Western elites are wicked and method struggle unconsciously,” Liberation stated. “That is clearly not the case. Excessive-quality images and movies, resembling these taken by the AFP or AP information businesses , present that the mysterious bag of white powder is definitely a handkerchief rolled right into a ball that was positioned on the desk earlier than Keir Starmer arrived and the cameras entered the sales space, the place Macron and Merz had been already seated. The straw seems to be extra like a stirrer or a toothpick, which the German chancellor is alleged to have been fidgeting with,” Liberation wrote, in line with a translation.
