Riots rage in France: Macron’s controversial decision to tame turmoil

In response to nightly riots following the fatal shooting of a teenager by a police officer during a traffic stop, French President Emmanuel Macron has declared further measures to maintain public order, including bolstering police presence.

Macron, while refusing to declare a state of emergency as right-wing factions had suggested, is navigating a delicate balance to avoid igniting an even stronger backlash.

The unrest ignited after the death of the 17-year-old, Nahel, has stirred up deep-seated grievances regarding police behavior and racial profiling in France‘s lower-income, multi-ethnic suburbs. The state of emergency proposition, which was last enacted in 2005 during riots following the deaths of teenagers Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, would allow for the imposition of curfews and the closure of public spaces.

Macron promised to mobilize “additional means” through the interior ministry to quell the rioting. Following Macron’s statement, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne detailed plans for law enforcement to utilize armored vehicles and mobilize additional forces to maintain public order. She also announced the cancellation of “large-scale events binding personnel and potentially posing risks to public order”.

Despite the nationwide deployment of 40,000 officers, damages were still inflicted on hundreds of structures, thousands of vehicles were set aflame, and thousands of fires were started.

French president Macron launches measures to contain riots after teen’s death. Photo courtesy of Hubert de Thé from Pixabay.

In a call for civic responsibility, Macron urged parents to prevent their underage children from participating in the violent demonstrations, adding that it wasn’t the Republic’s place to substitute parental guidance. He also pledged to collaborate with social media networks to curb the spread of “copycat violence” through platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.

Nahel’s mother, Mounia, shared her grief over the loss of her son and placed blame on the individual officer responsible for her son’s death. The officer, 38, has since been arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter.

As a result of the ongoing unrest, numerous public buildings across the country, including police stations, schools, and town halls, have been targeted. Despite the increased police presence, violence and damage persist in various regions. In the Paris region, public transportation has been severely disrupted, with the regional transport authority announcing the closure of services from 9 pm until further notice for safety reasons.