Thorning: France is not alone in free speech fight
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Published: 12 Jan, 2015 CET.
Updated: Mon 12 Jan 2015 08:34 CET
After walking arm-in-arm with other world leaders on the front line of the massive unity march in Paris, Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt said that “solidarity is stronger than fear”.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt called her participation in the overwhelming mobilisation of French citizens and international supporters in the streets of Paris on Sunday “a very special day”.
“We are here to show our sorrow and sympathy for those who aren’t here any more and the bereaved. But of course we’re also here to tell the French people that they shall not be alone in the defence of free expression,” she told reporters.
Thorning-Schmidt said that the march sends the signal that “Europe stands together” and said that she was happy so many international leaders showed their support.
“I’m very pleased that Muslim leaders came to today’s march to show that this isn’t about the West against Islam. This is a general defence for the freedom of expression and a condemnation of what happened here,” she said.
Sunday's march featured President Francois Hollande linking arms with world leaders, including the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian president, in an historic display of unity. Thorning-Schmidt marched between British PM David Cameron and Polish PM Ewa Kopacz.
Following the Danish PM’s post-march meeting with Hollande at the Élysée Palace, Thorning-Schmidt took a slight tumble when walking down the steps in front of the gathered international press.
She was uninjured and recovered gracefully from the mishap in front of rolling cameras.
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Helle Thorning-Schmidt called her participation in the overwhelming mobilisation of French citizens and international supporters in the streets of Paris on Sunday “a very special day”.
“We are here to show our sorrow and sympathy for those who aren’t here any more and the bereaved. But of course we’re also here to tell the French people that they shall not be alone in the defence of free expression,” she told reporters.
Thorning-Schmidt said that the march sends the signal that “Europe stands together” and said that she was happy so many international leaders showed their support.
“I’m very pleased that Muslim leaders came to today’s march to show that this isn’t about the West against Islam. This is a general defence for the freedom of expression and a condemnation of what happened here,” she said.
Sunday's march featured President Francois Hollande linking arms with world leaders, including the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian president, in an historic display of unity. Thorning-Schmidt marched between British PM David Cameron and Polish PM Ewa Kopacz.
Following the Danish PM’s post-march meeting with Hollande at the Élysée Palace, Thorning-Schmidt took a slight tumble when walking down the steps in front of the gathered international press.
She was uninjured and recovered gracefully from the mishap in front of rolling cameras.
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