Former British Prime Minister John Major gave a lecture on Thursday February 10, entitled “In democracy we trust? », « In democracy we believe? “. The conservative, in power in the 1990s before the arrival of Tony Blair, rarely speaks out. And there, he is not tender with his successor Boris Johnson.
With our correspondent in London, Emily Wine
From the first minutes of his conference, John Major accuses the government of having lied in the wake celebrations in Downing Street.
” At 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister and his aides broke the law. Cheeky excuses were invented. Day after day, people were asked to believe the incredible, did he declare. The government was perceived as nebulous. No government, no government, can function if its words are met with suspicion. »
Partygate, but also populist laws and Brexit have eroded the confidence of the British in their democracy according to him. But also that of international partners.
“ Our reputation abroad has collapsed, because of our conduct, continues the former Prime Minister. An example: the Minister of Foreign Affairs meets on Thursday (February 10) his counterpart in Moscow. The Prime Minister, I believe, had a brief telephone conversation with President Putin. But the French president got a five-hour, face-to-face interview. ! Back then it would have been us. »
For the former head of government, British democracy is not yet threatened. But we must quickly repair the bricks, to prevent the wall from collapsing.