Politics

Is this France's George Floyd moment?

Macron has condemned the killing of a 17-year-old of Algerian descent and the UN has called on Paris "to address the problems of racism within the ranks of its security forces."

A protester holds a banner that reads "Did you have a good day, Dad? - Yes, you killed a child your age" in Bordeaux, southwest France on June 30, 2023
AFP
A protester holds a banner that reads "Did you have a good day, Dad? - Yes, you killed a child your age" in Bordeaux, southwest France on June 30, 2023

Is this France's George Floyd moment?

Khattar Abu Diab
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President Emmanuel Macron is facing his third bout with civil unrest and faces a potential second suburban uprising, following his confrontation with the Yellow Vests protests and the protests over the retirement systems.

This time, Macron faces the challenge of trying to balance between maintaining state authority and respecting public order on the one hand, and preserving social cohesion and the future of marginalised youth on the other.

The tense situation will undoubtedly be politicised in a nation deeply divided between the far right and far left. What happens next can largely determine France's stability in the near and medium interim.

France was preparing for the start of the summer vacation season with positive economic indicators as inflation was dropping and Macron had successfully overcome the hurdles of passing the retirement system reform.

However, this respite was short-lived. The gunning down of a 17-year-old Nahel M. of Algerian descent, by a policeman, upended everything. While the police narrative focused on the victim's refusal to comply with traffic check orders, a video showing the police officer shooting the boy sparked outrage.

Shortly after, protests, rioting and looting erupted in several suburbs of Paris and other cities in France.

Away from the American racial context, which has its own unique characteristics, the death of Nahel draws stark parallels with the killing of the black American George Floyd, who was suffocated to death by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020.

This act, committed by a law enforcement representative, was captured and broadcast almost in real-time, shook the nation and prompted a moment of deep reflection and reckoning over racial discrimination in the country, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Calls to address race

The United Nations' call for Paris "to address the problems of racism and racial discrimination within the ranks of its security forces" cannot be ignored. This requires a careful review of the composition of the police and the regulations governing self-defence.

The United Nations' call for Paris "to address the problems of racism and racial discrimination within the ranks of its security forces" cannot be ignored. Macron has described what happened to Nahel as something inexplicable and unforgivable.

Compared to the suburban riots of 2005, which lasted for 21 consecutive days and resulted in the death of three people, Macron has taken a different approach. He described what happened to Nahel as something inexplicable and unforgivable.

In doing so, he adopted a completely opposite approach from that of Nicolas Sarkozy, the Minister of Interior during the 2005 riots, as he did not condemn the incident that sparked the riots, where two teenagers of African descent were electrocuted during a police chase.

While admirable, Macron's condemnation of the killing did not help to quell the escalating violence. The state is now placed in a difficult position as it has to deal firmly with groups that exploit the suffering of underprivileged neighbourhoods and take advantage of the chaos to carry out acts of looting and vandalism.

Explosive situation

With the escalation of violence in the past few days, clashes with the police, political rivalries, and critical statements issued by sports and cultural figures regarding the current situation, there are increasing concerns that the situation can further explode.

French society, with its cultural, racial, and religious diversity, is extremely fragile at the moment, and there is a very real danger of the incident being exploited for political gain.

French society, with its cultural, racial, and religious diversity, is extremely fragile at the moment, and there is a very real danger of the incident being exploited for political gain.

While Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical left, condemned the actions of the police, and the leader of the Greens drew parallels to American police brutality, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally party, announced her unconditional support for the police.

Additionally, the leader of the right-wing Republican Party, Eric Ciotti, went as far as to say: "It is armed gangs that are looting, burning public buildings, homes, and killing police officers. Nothing can justify the outbreak of violence."

While some have gone as far as to talk about the possibility of civil war, this is extremely unlikely. The resilience of society and the state will not allow such a scenario to unfold, regardless of the degree of dysfunction in the political landscape and the obvious barriers to social integration and climbing the social ladder.

It is evident that from 2005 to 2023 France has failed to address the root causes and grievances of marginalised and underprivileged groups, which reveals the shortcomings of the integration model for immigrants and the state's treatment of French-born children of immigrants as second-class citizens.

It is important not to downplay the tensions arising from the escalating aggression between the police and some residents. The tragedy requires a thorough investigation with clear findings, as well as implementing reforms in the procedures for the use of weapons.

It is important not to downplay the tensions arising from the escalating aggression between the police and some residents, and it is unacceptable to justify the acts of violence that spread across several cities and neighbourhoods.

However, the tragedy that occurred requires a thorough investigation with clear findings, as well as implementing reforms in the procedures for the use of weapons.

Reconciliation between the marginalised community and the state, avoiding political exploitation to win in elections, reforming the integration model and promoting concepts of citizenship and equality, rejecting discrimination, and reassessing the conditions of the suburbs are necessary conditions to avoid further escalation and contain the wave of civil violence unfolding across the country.

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