A foot crushes a portrait of Bachar el-Assad thrown to the ground. It’s on the front page of New Obs. Photo accompanied by this title: “ The new masters of Damascus ». The Point for his part, chose the photo of Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, “ The Emir of Damascus », headlines the weekly which asks: “ Who is really the new master of Syria? “. And this is what concerns the French weeklies, the future. It is “ the dizziness of post-Assad », titre l’Expresswhich adds “ the relief of seeing a bloodthirsty dictator fall, however, should not blind us. A glance at the future of Syria is enough to make one dizzy ». « The jihadist now at the head of Syria “, estimates the Point, “ promises moderation, but its past testifies to its radicalism “. Like all weeklies, The Point reviews the past of Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, his journey as a jihadist, the Islamic State, al-Qaidathe al-Nusra Front. A man who, according to Islamologist Thomas Pierret, “ staged, in 2014, a very brutal application of sharia in its mode of governance of conquered territories ».
Treillis feet
The New Obseven speaks of a “ old backpacker » of jihadism, which however has several facets. “ He is also charismatic and a good communicator. » adds the New Obs« he now multiplies the guarantees of good conduct. He shortened his beard, swapped the turban for a Zelensky-style khaki fatigues and abandoned his nom de guerre to sign himself with his birth name, Ahmed al-Charaa. “. But the weekly is under no illusions. “ In 2021 », tells us New Obs« al-Joulani praised the Taliban upon their return to power, citing them as an inspiration for balancing jihad and political compromise. Three years later, he is on track to lead a country of 24 million people ».
Islamist or moderate
For his part, Marianneis no more convinced of the good intentions of the new master of the Syria. « Moderate rebel ? » asks the weekly, which immediately responds: “ no, Islamist ». Marianne mocks “ the colleagues » who qualify al-Joulani as “ leader of the rebel coalition ». « Something to fear », tells us Marianne« the great return of the figure of the “moderate” rebel, according to the terminology imposed by the Americans to justify their support for Syrian Islamist groups “, a ” semantic scam “, accuses the weekly, which nevertheless wonders: “ how to avoid chaos ? » Marianne questioned Michel Fayad, specialist in geopolitics, according to whom “theThe international community must get involved and not be fooled by al-Joulani. He will show his credentials until Donald Trump withdraws American troops from the oil zone in the south of the country. Once he gets his hands on the oil windfall, he will have the way clear to reveal his true intentions.”
Political beast
The situation therefore requires lucidity… This is what Lebanese journalist Anthony Samrani, co-editor-in-chief of the Lebanese French-speaking daily newspaper l’, suggests.Orient-Le Jour. In the columns of New Obshe asks several questions: “ should we fear a Syrian Islamic State which would carry out terrorist operations in Europe or the rest of the world? I don’t believe. On the other hand, should we fear a model that resembles that of the Taliban, a radical fundamentalist group that could host factions even more radical than itself? ” Yes » replies Anthony Samrani, for whom “hasl-Joulani is a man obsessed with conquering power, a real political beast who should not be underestimated ».
Steep path
The news is also the appointment of a new Prime Minister in France. The Sunday newspapers widely reported it. And this is the Tribune Sunday who landed the interview (very short interview) with François Bayrou. Full page photo on the front page, with this quote from the new Prime Minister “ I like to repair “. An unequivocal allusion to what he could bring to a France in very bad shape. Will François Bayrou be the man for the job? Today in France Sunday in doubt. The Prime Minister “ advances on a path so steep that his chances of surviving this adventure are as ridiculous as those of his predecessor “. A shared option, in the Sunday Journalby the former centrist minister Hervé Morin: “ Unless a miracle “, he said, “ Bayrou will experience the same fate as Barnier “. And after? “ If Bayrou fails », continues Hervé Morin, “ and if a third government does not last longer than the previous ones, the French will draw their own conclusion: the only outcome will be the departure of Macron “. Suffice to say that François Bayrou holds the fate of the president in his hands…
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