Macron opens the door to 'reparations' for slavery
French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged the need for reparations for slavery during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Taubira law. This statement represents a significant shift in France's historical stance on the issue, as it is the first time a sitting president has recognized the demand for reparations from Caribbean and African civil society groups. Macron emphasized the importance of addressing the question of how to repair the injustices of slavery without making false promises.
- ▪Macron spoke during a ceremony at the Elysée Palace on May 21, 2026.
- ▪He acknowledged the need for reparations for slavery for the first time as a French president.
- ▪The Taubira law recognizes the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity.
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President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the law recognizing the slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity, at the Elysée Palace in Paris, on May 21, 2026. THIBAULT CAMUS/AP With one year left in his term, French President Emmanuel Macron took a symbolic step on a highly sensitive issue of historical memory. On Thursday, May 21, during commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of the Taubira law – which recognized the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as "crimes against humanity" – the president spoke of the need for "reparations" for these crimes. This marked the first time a French president acknowledged this long-standing demand from Caribbean and African civil society groups.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Le Monde (EN).
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