The French government admits it has imposed a state of emergency to restore “republican order” after the spate of protests in recent days triggered by the death of a teenager shot by police in Nanterre.
A source at the Élysée Palace, the seat of the French presidency, said this Friday that the president, Emmanuel Macron, is ready to adapt the police apparatus “without taboos” after the third night of violence, including the establishment of the state of emergency.
The Conservative opposition called for this exceptional measure, which involves empowering the security forces and curtailing freedoms, as a way to deal with the escalation of the riots. resulting in more than 660 arrests and nearly 250 police officers and gendarmes injured on Thursday night alone, according to Interior Ministry data.
The last time France declared a state of emergency was in November 2015, after the jihadist attacks in Paris. Initially, the government can approve it for a period of 12 days, extendable if parliament deems it necessary.
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who visited a police station in Évry-Courcouronnes with Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, promised that the government would study “the best response” to the current escalation at an emergency inter-ministerial meeting convened by President Emmanuel Macron.
The French head of state, who returns to Paris before the end of the European summit in Brussels, will chair a new inter-ministerial crisis unit at 1 pm (noon in Lisbon).
According to the source at the Élysée Palace, Macron hopes that Borne and Darmanin “will submit proposals to him to develop and adapt” the police apparatus “without taboos”.
Meeting with several ministers this morning, Borne said the protests, sparked after the death of a 17-year-old by police and taking place on its third night, are “unbearable and unforgivable”.
“The acts committed are unbearable and unforgivable,” said the French leader surrounded by the ministers of the Interior, Justice, Ecological Transition and Areas and Housing and Cities.
The meeting took place in Matignon and was intended to take stock of the previous night’s violence.
At least 667 arrested and 249 police officers injured
At least 667 people were arrested in France from Thursday evening to today, according to official data, and 249 police officers were injured.
In a message posted on Twitter, Darmanin assured that instructions had been given to the security forces to maintain “steadfastness”.
There are no politicians, gendarmes and sapeurs-pompiers who have an honest face, with courage, a rare violence.
Agreement with mes instructions from fermeté, ils ont procédé à 667 interpellations.
– Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) June 30, 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron called another crisis meeting for today, after cutting short his presence in Brussels, where he is taking part in a European summit, to return to Paris.
40,000 police officers have been deployed to try to put an end to the disturbances that have been going on for several days in social housing in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, and in other deprived areas of the French capital.
The death of young Nahel on Tuesday at a traffic check, captured by surveillance cameras, has reignited tension between young people and the police.
Clashes with security forces broke out in Nanterre on Tuesday night and public buildings were damaged and cars set on fire in the early hours of Thursday, with around 150 people arrested.
The police officer suspected of the death of the young man charged with murder has been arrested and remains in custody.
Source: DN
