French newly appointed Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné took a trip to Kyiv straight after he took the position, a move that was the subject of criticism mainly for his grammatical errors while speaking his mother tongue and representing his country abroad.
The French FM met his Ukrainian peer Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday.
These blunders, unusual at this level of responsibility, created a social media sensation. Séjourné was ridiculed mercilessly by internet users.
Séjourné has had a contentious start to his tenure. In Kyiv, he attempted to reassure Ukraine by emphasizing that France’s assistance would be long-term, but his difficulties explaining himself were obvious.
He is already the subject of much criticism for having been appointed to this prestigious post without possessing either the required qualifications or the pedigree indispensable to embodying the voice and face of France in the world.
Employment Lawyer Nathan Bothereau said, “Séjourné doesn’t have what it takes to run the Quai d’Orsay – we already knew that! Now we discover that he doesn’t even have enough oral communication skills.”
Many German media outlets undescored the relationship between Gabriel Attal and Séjourné which might cause some potential conflicts of interest.
As Séjourné becomes more visible, his verbal gaffes and lack of proficiency will cement his place in French memes.