Elisabeth Borne defended Tuesday before the deputies the need for “national unity” after the riots, accusing in turn LFI “of instrumentalizing” the death of young Nahel, killed by a policeman, and the RN of making the choice of the division”.
“With the return to calm, the debates will resume, it’s normal, it’s democratic, it’s very healthy. But I think it’s important that this does not take precedence over national unity”, First declared in the morning the Prime Minister in front of the deputies of the Renaissance, Horizons and MoDem groups, in the presence of several ministers, including Gérald Darmanin (Interior) and Eric Dupond-Moretti (Justice).
Elisabeth Borne recalled having met on Monday all the parliamentary groups, which appeared divided in their proposals, for the sake of “democratic transparency” for “our republican unity and our national cohesion”.
The head of government strongly criticized the president of the deputies LFI Mathilde Panot, who left before the end of the meeting at Matignon. She said she was “very shocked by the words of La France insoumise which refuses to condemn the violence”, “additional proof” in her eyes that this party “does not position itself in the republican field”.
Before the National Assembly, placed under the rolling fire of questions to the government, she accused LFI of “instrumentalising a drama” and of choosing the “path” of “the constant excuse of violence”.
“You want to make us responsible for the anger, when it takes root in a heinous murder. Neither arrests nor repression will dry up the thirst for justice of youth. Only a political response is likely to appease the situation in the long term. country,” said Mathilde Panot.
Elisabeth Borne also accused Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN deputies, of making the “choice” of “division” by opposing “rural territories and so-called sensitive neighborhoods” as if helping some had to strip the others ” .
“When our Republic is attacked, national unity must prevail,” she insisted.
Marine Le Pen had called on the Prime Minister “for the courage of self-criticism”, demanding to “stop anarchic immigration” and to “take back control in the districts of France”.
To the leader of the LR deputies Olivier Marleix, Elisabeth Borne assured to be “mobilized” against “impunity” with a “firm criminal response, more efficient, faster justice”.
The “longer-term reflection” on this crisis “will take place”, she promised Boris Vallaud, leader of the PS deputies, while affirming that the government had “stopped acting for the neighborhoods and for the politics of the city for 6 years”.
After a decrease in violence over the past two nights, Ms. Borne indicated that the government was going “with the greatest caution (to adapt) its security system” but remained “extremely vigilant”.
She recalled the “four pillars” of the executive’s response so far: a “mobilization of the police”, “the firmness of the criminal response”, the “accountability of social networks”, and a ” necessary reminder of parental responsibility”.
07/04/2023 17:51:04 – Paris (AFP) – © 2023 AFP