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The mindless riots that have wreaked havoc across towns and cities in France appear to be subsiding, although the potential for escalation remains. The initial violence was sparked by the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk by a police officer during a routine check. This rapid spread of chaos, aided by the influence of social media, has exposed deep-rooted social tensions and political divisions. To prevent further outbreaks, President Emmanuel Macron and his government must take a comprehensive and sustained approach. If left unaddressed, the impoverished and ethnically diverse urban neighborhoods of France will continue to be a volatile and explosive situation.
Macron deserves some recognition for his handling of this crisis. From the beginning, he demonstrated empathy for the deceased youth, describing his death as “inexcusable” and “inexplicable”. Despite criticism from opponents and police unions, who viewed these statements as a violation of the presumption of innocence and a betrayal of the police, it was crucial to extinguish the flames. The government, including the firm interior minister Gérald Darmanin, followed the president’s lead by avoiding inflammatory language. Macron also resisted calls to declare a state of emergency, which could have exacerbated the situation, while mobilizing extensive police resources to contain the unrest.
Macron’s dominant approach to power over the past six years has significantly fueled public opinion. However, it is not only extremists who endanger the republic; the crisis has been exploited by individuals on the far-right, far-left, and right. Unlike far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who refused to call for order, the victim’s family, France’s football team, and other prominent figures demonstrated more responsibility by advocating for calm.
No grievance can justify mindless violence wreaked by a rampaging mob. The intentional act of setting a car on fire and ramming it into the home of a district mayor south of Paris exemplifies pure criminality, and the looters involved must be held accountable for their actions. Parents also share responsibility for allowing thrill-seeking teenagers to engage in such behavior. However, France must address the underlying causes of the sense of injustice and abandonment felt by many communities, which are partly a result of Macron’s policies.
France is not the only country where police brutality against black or ethnic minority individuals has sparked significant unrest. The US and UK have also experienced similar issues. However, France has been particularly reluctant to confront its policing problems, including violent tactics during protests, inadequate training, systemic racial discrimination, and far-right sympathies. Stricter regulations on the use of firearms, which were relaxed in 2017, are necessary. Macron’s hesitancy to address these issues for fear of appearing soft on law and order has backfired, as it is the far-right that stands to benefit the most from further flare-ups.
In addition, Macron and the French political elite have failed to allocate proper attention and resources to combat poverty, crime, racial discrimination, and educational underperformance within the banlieues. There are no simple solutions, as policing alone cannot effectively address these challenges. While billions have been invested in improving transportation and housing, human capital has been neglected. The cycle of successful locals moving out and new immigrants moving in has worsened segregation.
Following his victory in 2017, Macron commissioned a report on urban policy, only to put it aside. A new plan, promised last year, is yet to materialize. Urgent action is now required. The confidence of inward investors may be shaken, and the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris could face the threat of urban disorder. Once the flames have been extinguished, France needs a new national mission to foster inclusive and harmonious communities. The resurgent far-right will attempt to undermine these efforts, but Macron could focus his energies here if he desires a lasting political legacy.
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