The French president, Emmanuel Macron, was “cautious” on Tuesday in relation to the return to calm after several nights of riots in France, but considered that “the peak” of the riots will have passed.
The French head of state was speaking in an intervention at the Élysée Palace before some 250 mayors of cities affected by the wave of violence that is plaguing the country after the death of a 17-year-old boy, shot by police during a traffic control. in Nanterre (on the outskirts of Paris) on June 27.
“Is the return to calm lasting? I will be cautious, but the peak that we have seen in recent days is over,” said the French president, after expressing to the mayors “the support, esteem and recognition of the Nation” for “actions taken” during the protests.
After the young man’s death, the country was the scene of several consecutive nights of riots.
At least 72 people were arrested in the seventh consecutive night of riots in France, which according to the French Interior Ministry registered fewer incidents compared to recent days.
The number of arrests communicated by the Government on Monday night, without referring to the seriousness of the events, is lower than the 157 of the previous night and the 718 arrests that occurred on the night of Saturday to Sunday.
In all, the riots sparked by the Nanterre incident led to the arrest of more than 3,200 people across France, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Monday during a visit to the city of Reims.
In several consecutive nights of riots, among other acts of violence and according to provisional data, around 5,000 vehicles were set on fire, almost 1,000 buildings totally or partially destroyed, 250 attacks on police stations and more than 700 members of the security forces.
In recent days, 45,000 police and gendarmes (militarized police) have been deployed in various parts of the country, but mainly in the Paris region.
According to the French employers’ association Medef, the riots have already caused estimated damage of about one billion euros: 200 commercial establishments were completely looted and 300 bank branches destroyed, as well as 250 street kiosks.
Medef has not yet included a forecast of the possible impact of the incidents on the image of France in terms of tourism.
Macron visited several Paris fire stations on Monday that are located in the areas closest to the places where the riots took place, after admitting the possibility of “financially sanctioning” minors responsible for acts of violence.
The French Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, today receives the leaders of the majority parliamentary groups after having met on Monday with the leaders of the opposition parties.
The police officer suspected of the young man’s death is charged with murder and is in custody.
Source: TSF
