By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, April 28: The exile Tibetan leadership including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering have congratulated the incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron who edged out far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Monday to secure another term in office. President Tsering congratulated Macron on Wednesday by praising his impressive campaign victory, “The momentous victory reflects the trust the people of France place in your able leadership and the values you stand for.”
The head of Central Tibetan Administration also expressed his gratitude to French leaders for their support of Tibet, “Today, a growing community of Tibetan people calls France their second home. We are always grateful for the generosity and empathy with which French leaders, politicians, organizations, and individuals have rendered their support for the Tibetan people and their struggle for freedom and justice.” Penpa Tsering further said that he hoped that the French government will continue to be on the side of human rights. According to a French news website Info Migrants estimate, around 8000 Tibetans have sought asylum in the European country as of 2019.
Similarly, on the day of Macron’s victory, the foremost Buddhist leader Dalai Lama sent his congratulations. “It has been the Tibetan people’s good fortune to have received the friendship and encouragement of the people of France and their respective leaders in our endeavour to protect and preserve our ancient Buddhist culture, a culture of peace, non-violence (Ahimsa) and compassion (Karuna) that has the potential to benefit the whole of humanity,” His Holiness wrote on Monday.
In the French electoral history, this is the first time since Jacques Chirac of the right-of-center Republican Party in 2002, that a sitting President has been granted another term by the French voters. However, President Macron in 2018 raised concern when he ruled out meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama without consulting China in order to avoid any conflict with China. “Now I’m president of the French republic. If I meet him [Dalai Lama], it will create indeed a crisis with China. Is it good for my people if I have a sort of countermeasures coming from China as a result of the meeting? For sure no,” Macron had said at the time.
