Violence in France: "Anger and shame", "transparency" demanded, 2027... What to take from Emmanuel Macron's speech

Violence in France: "Anger and shame", "transparency" demanded, 2027... What to take from Emmanuel Macron's speech Following the violence and looting that occurred in several cities on the sidelines of the October 17 demonstrations, the president promised a firm response against the rioters on Sunday evening. Pass the advertisement Pass the advertisementEmmanuel Macron could have reacted differently? Doubtless not. Faced with scenes of vandalism of rare magnitude that occurred on the sidelines of the October 17 demonstrations against the high cost of living, which stunned public opinion and went around the world, the President of the Republic, guarantor of the country's unity, addressed the nation solemnly on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. It is a sign that given the gravity of the moment, a simple message of firmness, published as early as Saturday evening on X, was no longer sufficient. And this is even as sporadic clashes still broke out on Sunday in Paris. An intervention preceded by a crisis meeting at the Élysée with the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu - who took the lead the day before - as well as the concerned ministers, intended to respond to two angers. That of the opposition and some mayors, who denounce either the excess or the insufficiency of law enforcement, or even demand resignations, such as the RN. That of the French, also exasperated by the images of looted shops, shop windows and public furniture smashed, and city halls plundered, when they were not burned, as in Limoges (Haute-Vienne). Pass the advertisement An exercise all the more perilous for Emmanuel Macron that the political context is inflammable, six months before an election that will mark the end of his decade in office. Because more than a response to the wait for a return of authority, the stake may be the memory that public opinion will keep of his years in power. It is therefore no surprise that the president immediately spoke of a "moment of extreme gravity," marked by "unbridled violence," which he attributed to "factious individuals from far-right fringe groups joined by many criminals." Le Figaro summarizes what must be taken from his speech. Macron feels "Anger and shame" Shops looted, public buildings and city halls attacked, hundreds of police and gendarmes injured... "Looking at these images, we all asked ourselves how French people can do this to France. How can they get to this point? Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it," exclaimed Emmanuel Macron, expressing his "anger" and "shame" at "seeing the streets of our cities so vandalized." The opportunity to "express the nation's support for our law enforcement and our internal security forces. They held on and did their best." A support that he also addressed to the mayors and elected officials, as well as to artisans and shopkeepers in "distress," who will not be "left alone to face these difficulties." To support the people affected by the violence, the Prime Minister will convene a crisis cell on Monday to mobilize "the fastest possible aid." The executive must learn "all the lessons", Macron demands "transparency" Were there flaws in intelligence or a lack of resources to ensure effective law and order? Emmanuel Macron asked the government to learn "all the lessons" so that these violences "cannot be repeated." "I await clear answers and all transparency will be provided," he thundered, addressing the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez in particular. As for the investigations aimed at the perpetrators of disorder, they must, in his view, be conducted "with all the necessary diligence, as quickly as possible." "Those who destroyed must pay. Those who looted must reimburse. (...) Those who sought to bring down the Republic will have to answer for it," he hammered home. Before adding: "We will be relentless. Listening and dialogue do not mean weakness or impunity." "Hearing the anger" and "enforcing public order": the government's "double responsibility" The State has only taken care to differentiate criminals from demonstrators who came to march with their demands. "We must never confuse" these latter "with those who destroyed, broke, looted," said Emmanuel Macron, while saying he understood the "deep anxiety" expressed by young people over several weeks. "Their words must be heard without prejudice and without minimizing the difficulties," he specified on this matter. And insisted: "Our responsibility is therefore double: to hear the anger and act on its causes, and to firmly enforce the republican order." "The prefects will make decisions in connection with the mayors to protect our cities, our public buildings and our businesses," he indicated, with the violence that continued on Sunday evening in Paris in the background. Pass the advertisement To respond to the young people's concerns, the government will now work with the competent organizations. "We cannot ask our youth to believe in the future without giving them the opportunity to build the answers and to be at the table," he affirmed. A jab sent to La France Insoumise Finally, Emmanuel Macron did not hesitate to send an arrow to La France insoumise, without naming it, accused by his detractors of blowing on the embers of anger. "All those who today tell you that the urgency is to go to the streets, to demonstrate, to create disorder have only one goal: to damage the Republic and steal the debate," the president charged, believing that "our country deserves a beautiful presidential election in six months." And to exhort all trade unions and political organizations to "unambiguously condemn all violence and call for calm." "The country needs order, calm, and not escalation," he pleaded. In this sense, Sébastien Lecornu will meet the political formations "in the coming days to obtain clear and public positions." Pat_French As usual Macron is just blah-blah, nothing concrete, he really must resign. It has been two years since our country has no longer been governed, and almost ten years since it has been sinking into deficits and violence without any reaction from the executive. I'm fed up! packerets shame!!!!!! PIERRE ROLAND TRANCHAT Why dressed in black? Including the tie! It seems to you! Strange!