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Emmanuel Macron congratulates his supporters after the victory. PHOTO: PHOTO: Reuters
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Despite strained relations between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory message to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for his re-election for a second term, the Huffington Post reported. “I sincerely wish you success in your public work, as well as good health,” the congratulatory message reads.
There is nothing special about it, but French social media users took the 44-year-old head of state’s wish for good health as strange and began vying to speculate on its hidden meaning. In any case, Putin’s message did not leave the French indifferent. “I don’t know why, but when Putin wishes you good health, you get chills,” wrote user Anais. “And most of all, good health. I think Macron should hire two or three people to try his food like Cleopatra’s, “said another user. A third believes that there is a lot of subtext in the wish, and a fourth recalls that in a James Bond film there is a moment when the negative character significantly wishes Agent 007 good health. “This is a hidden threat,” said another follower of the French president.
However, the Huffington Post explains that despite the suspicions no doubt raised by the war in Ukraine, it is in fact an expression that has long been standard for the Kremlin. In his congratulatory messages to his foreign counterparts, Putin often uses the terms “good health” and “prosperity.” He wished this to South Korean President Yun Suk-Yol after his election on March 10. At the end of October last year, the Russian president wished “good health and prosperity” to the re-elected head of state of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It’s just a matter of protocol, in which no subtext should be sought, experts explain.
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