Last January the French government was among Saudi Arabia’s harshest critics, condemning the mass execution of 47 people as “deeply deplorable.”
Yet almost two months to the day after that statement was issued, President François Hollande has awarded his republic’s most prestigious civilian medal to Saudi heir Prince Mohammed bin Naif.
Hollande is facing especially derisive criticism as the honor seems to have been awarded on the hush-hush.
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Prince Mohammed paid a quiet visit to the Elysée Palace on Friday 4 March, the same day as Hollande held talks on the European refugee crisis with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Merkel’s visit featured prominently in a number of videos and still pictures posted by the
Elysée social media team, but any reference to the Saudi delegation was conspicuously absent.
On Sunday, Hollande’s staff confirmed that the prince had received the medal but officials downplayed it, telling Le Monde it was “common protocol” to issue visiting dignitaries the Legion of Honor.