French President Emmanuel Macron has praised the election of Franco-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf as the perpetual secretary of the Académie française. According to an Elysée press release issued on Friday, Macron stated, “Between Beirut, where he grew up, and Paris, where he built his life as an adult and writer, Maalouf’s Franco-Lebanese destiny was written from East to West, across borders and cultures.”
Macron also noted that Amin Maalouf, who succeeded Hélène Carrère d’Encausse, “began learning French at the age of four but didn’t establish roots in France until he was twenty-seven, due to the tumultuous history of Lebanon that forced him into exile.”
“From this profound interweaving of two worlds, he retained a gift for exploring and unraveling the labyrinths of identity, with a predilection for the confluence of East and West, steeped in history and the imaginary,” wrote Macron.
Highlighting the relevance of Maalouf’s work in contemporary issues, Macron emphasized that it offers insightful perspectives on topics such as the dialogue between peoples, migration, globalization, rootedness and nomadism. He also mentioned upcoming events like the national tribute to Hélène Carrère d’Encausse and the inauguration of the Cité internationale de la langue française in Villers-Cotterets, underscoring the importance of honoring Maalouf’s extraordinary journey as a testament to the vitality and richness of the French-speaking world.
In conclusion, Macron expressed hope that Amin Maalouf, the 33rd holder of this historic office, “will continue to contribute to the global influence of the French language, which takes pride in having been learned, served and enriched by him.”
