RN spokesperson Jacobelli accuses Macron of being absent during the fires in southern France

Paris – 06.07.2026: Laurent Jacobelli, MP for Moselle and spokesperson for the Rassemblement National (RN), strongly attacked President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Franceinfo. Jacobelli stated that the head of state had been ‘absent’ during the recent major fires in southern France and had missed the ‘rendez-vous’ with the population. He accused the government of failing to respond adequately to the fires, which, according to media and authorities, affected large areas and led to numerous evacuations.
Official authorities dispute this interpretation. The prefectures in the affected departments and the Ministry of the Interior point to the deployment of thousands of firefighters and civil protection personnel, reinforced across the country, as well as the establishment of interministerial crisis cells. An operations center had already been activated at the end of June to coordinate the expected heatwave and increased fire risk. Additional firefighting resources and aerial support were also deployed from the regions to contain the fires and secure localities.
Politically, Jacobelli’s initiative comes at a time of heightened alert. Several municipalities ordered temporary evacuations, while civil protection delineated restricted zones and controlled access. Media reports describe extensive fire fronts, some of them difficult to reach, where teams are operating in variable winds. Organizers have also adapted procedures: in the affected regions, routes and logistics were revised to clear intervention corridors and protect residents and participants.
In the same interview, Jacobelli responded to criticism from former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, who had accused the RN of wavering strategically. Jacobelli referred to Philippe’s government’s record, including the 80 km/h speed limit rule, public debt trends and the Gilets jaunes protests. In doing so, he shifted the focus from the immediate danger situation to a fundamental debate on political responsibility and leadership style.
Beyond the immediate development of the fires, questions of prevention and adaptation are emerging. Forest and vegetation management, firebreaks, water resources, distances from settlements, and the equipment of firefighters and civil protection are being discussed. The government points to preventive measures, financial aid and new guidelines for risk areas; opposition parties complain of gaps in implementation, funding and coordination between the state, regions and municipalities. In light of frequent heatwaves and longer periods of drought, the challenge remains to establish protection concepts nationwide without delaying reconstruction in affected communities.
While the situation on the ground remains dynamic, the controversy is escalating tensions in Paris. Between crisis management, public expectations and polemical exchanges between parties, the question remains how quickly state structures can respond to extreme weather events and how sustainably resources for prevention, equipment and restoration are ensured.