French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday opposed the declaration of a state of emergency to deal with the riots that took place for the third consecutive night in several cities across the country. The exceptional measure, which gives authorities more powers to ban protests or intercept suspects, was used in 2005 by then-President Jacques Chirac to stem the violence that erupted after two youths were killed while fleeing police. At the time, the measure was introduced after 12 days of rioting, which continued for another eight days.
Macron, who left the European summit in Brussels early to reconvene the crisis cabinet, called for “parental responsibility”. According to the president, a third of those arrested so far are “young, maybe very young”, considering that “it is the parents’ responsibility to keep them at home” and that “the Republic has no vocation to replace them”. At least 875 people were arrested last night, damaging 492 buildings, burning out 2,000 vehicles and setting 3,880 fires.
Macron also called on social media platforms to remove “more sensitive” content related to the riots as they serve as “a place where violent protests have been staged”. But he also believed that there is an “imitation of violence” that causes young people to lose touch with reality. “We have the impression that some of them are experiencing the computer games that intoxicated them on the street,” he referred.
The riots broke out on Tuesday after a 17-year-old was killed by police during a traffic operation in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris. Nahel, whose funeral is today, was driving a car that was apparently spotted by two motorcycle cops on the public transportation lane after being asked to pull over. He didn’t take the order, but the vehicle would be immobilized further ahead due to traffic. The police officers then pointed their guns at him, with one of them firing as the car started up again. The 38-year-old officer claimed his safety was in danger, but the video of the moment seems to contradict this. However, the prosecutor believed he had no reason to shoot and charged him with voluntary manslaughter. He’s in custody.
What happened in 2005?
In 2005, it was the deaths of two young men – Zyed Benna, 17, and Bouna Traoré, 15 – that sparked the three weeks of rioting. On October 27, two young people died after being electrocuted in a distribution transformer in front of the EDF power station while fleeing police control in the commune of Clichy-sous-Bois, in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis (in the capital region) .
On the first evening there were riots in that municipality and in neighboring Montfermeil – a situation not unheard of. But eventually they spread to many cities across the country, with some pointing the finger at then Interior Minister (and future president) Nicolas Sarkozy. After the first acts of violence, he referred to young people from the peripheral areas of the capital as “racaille” (scum).
On November 8, after a particularly violent night, the government of Dominique de Villepin (Prime Minister of Chirac) decided to declare a state of emergency throughout the territory, resorting to a 1955 law passed in Algeria during the war . It was the first time in peacetime that it was used. The state of emergency was extended for three months.
The riots, which had been going on for 12 days, subsided but continued for another eight days. In addition to more than 9,000 burnt-out cars and nearly 3,000 arrests – more than a third of them minors – 230 public buildings were destroyed. More than 200 police officers were injured and two were killed: Salah Gaham died of suffocation while trying to put out one of the fires, and pensioner Jean-Jacques le Chenadec was attacked while doing the same.
Macron under pressure
The president is pressured by the right to declare a state of emergency – it was requested by Éric Ciotti, leader of the Republicans, and Éric Zemmour, head of Reconquista!. The state of emergency must be approved by the Council of Ministers and then signed by the President and can be declared in the event of imminent danger due to serious violations of public order or public calamities. The last time it was used was during the pandemic, in 2020.
The state of emergency allows for the prohibition of all forms of gatherings (such as marches or demonstrations), and also allows for the creation of security perimeters around places or the closing of public places or places of worship. It jeopardizes some individual freedoms, allowing for administrative searches and house arrests.
Macron yesterday approved the mobilization of “additional resources” to deal with the violence. Ahead of a fourth night of rioting, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne yesterday announced the deployment of armored vehicles and the cancellation of events (such as concerts) that could involve the mobilization of troops. The Minister of the Interior, Gérard Darmanin, also asked municipalities to stop public transport from 9 p.m.
Source: DN
