After urban violence, our country deserves better than a populist recovery

We, local elected representatives and parliamentarians of the left, confront the divisions of French society: increasing social and regional inequalities, increasing problems of insecurity linked to drug trafficking, the existing social decay and the now palpable anxiety about the future expressed by the young and the old, their own and the planet.

Major crises followed one another and revolutions took place in our country – such as the “yellow vests” movement, opposition to pension reform, riots in suburbs and medium-sized cities – without any political outlet. Each of these moments was accompanied by clashes with the police and attacks on shops and public buildings.

In the face of the urban violence our country has witnessed, the first measure to be taken was to restore order. We thank the police who allowed this and showed professionalism. We salute the associations and families who worked every night to restore public order. We condemn the words of the populists of the last days as irresponsible.

some talked about “wild suburbs” Forgetting that those on the front lines of the health crisis live there, the caregivers, the logisticians, the transport workers, the laborers, the clerks, those who haven’t worked remotely and who have allowed the country to stand by during periods of confinement. They are now denying them the quality of the French language, as if history had taught them nothing.

Some, from the hearts of the wealthy in capitals, welcomed the revolution and rejected the call for calm, forgetting what the residents of working-class neighborhoods were experiencing, anxious at the thought of their children joining the rioters, anxious about their painfully acquired possessions, nights peppered with mortars and tear gas, users of the public school and neighborhood of the Republic, who had access only to the users of the public school and the Republic Library. While our citizens wanted above all to find civil peace, they were blowing on the burning embers.

Finally, there are those who have decided to attack the left in charge until 2017, the left that will hold together the country that has been tested by the attacks, that carried the last city policy law in 2014. We can only regret that the current majority abandoned the Borlow report.

These “public accusers” wanted to settle scores. They demanded the repeal of the law of February 28, 2017 adopted in a terrorist context of increasing violence against the police. However, it would be appropriate to enter into the discussion by recalling some facts that are now forgotten.

Before 2017, the gendarmerie, due to their military status, benefited from a special regime for the use of their weapons, while the police forces, like all citizens, were subject to the common law regime for self-defense. Under the momentum of the European Court of Human Rights, the Court of Cassation restricted the ability of the gendarmes to shoot, by imposing on them the principles of utmost necessity and proportionality.

Through the effect of case law protecting both citizens and the police, the police and gendarmerie were thus subject to the same rules and requirements. It is these principles, firmly established by case law, that are enshrined in the law of February 28, 2017, by creating, with established law, a framework for the use of common arms among all law enforcement agencies. The Council of State also approved the legislation proposed by the government, on the grounds that it conforms to the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights. Even today, the forces of order must respect the conditions of legitimate defense for the use of their weapons, and this, in fact, is the main guarantee that we have the right to expect from the rule of law. In order not to respect this legal framework, a police officer was placed in pretrial detention and charged after the tragic death of Nael.

It is clear that nothing prevents evaluating the adopted laws, but this exercise must be done calmly and sincerely. To approach this thinking, there is no taboo as long as it is the subject of strong assessment and common consensus: autonomy of police control, pedestrian cameras, increased police and gendarmerie training, revision of intervention doctrines, reform of identity checks.

It is necessary that the forces of the system be irreversible. To achieve this goal, there must be a sufficient number of police officers, recognition of their profession and a careful awareness of their living conditions.

After the death of Nael Lessons, a massive fire

The issue of relations between the police and youth must also be addressed. It’s urgent. Although adults have an increased demand for security that, if we are not careful, can turn into a demand for power and strong power, young people as a whole do not trust the police.

We also remember that this kind of work and thinking carried out with the impetus of our majority and our government between 2012 and 2017, accompanied by means to work on the relationship between the police and the population, now means deleting it, as well as the idea of ​​the local police. Nothing can be achieved without perseverance and without long-term commitment.

Responses to the enormous challenges facing our country cannot be developed by exempting ourselves from the requirement of responsibility and credibility. And so we take the word to confirm that the real left exists, the real left that lives on the side of the French and that seeks answers regarding the living forces in the regions. It bears the aspirations of a just order.

For our part, in the face of the double populist temptation that only exacerbates the despair of our society, we call for a leap forward, for a joint diagnosis of the ailments afflicting our country and our youth to find the way to democratic recovery.

Petitioners:

Helen JeffroyMayor of Vaulx-en-Velin, Vice-Mayor of Lyon (69);

Michael DelafosseMayor of Montpellier, President of Montpellier Mediterranee Métropole (34);

Saadia Hajj Abdul QadirBeagle Municipal Councilor (33); Lauren Bonniercouncilor of the municipality of Condat-sur-Vienne (87); Jean-Louis Billardregional councilor of the Pays de la Loire (49); Francois Blanchardcouncilor of the commune of Poitiers, community councilor (86); Sultani PolarisDigne-les-Bains municipal councilor, community advisor (04); Hussein BourqiSenator Hérault, Provincial Adviser to Occitanie (34); Christopher BouvierMayor of Chas-sur-Rhône, Regional Adviser, Community Adviser (38); Maurice Proudcouncilor of the municipality of Creteil (94); Colette CapdevilBayonne municipal councilor, community advisor (64); Marie Arlette CarlottiSenator for Bouches-du-Rhône (13); André Chapavircouncilor of the municipality of Vieille-Brioude (43); Thierry CosicSenator from Sarthe (72); Francois QuelanderMayor of Brest, Head of Brest Metropol (22); Benoit D AnconaBeagle Municipal Councilor (33); Gilbert Locke DefinasSenator of the Rhone, Member of the City Council of Lyon (69); Christian DobsyMayor of Annemasse, First Vice President Annemasse Agglo (74); Leon Fatiomy councilor in Digne-les-Bains (04); Sandrine FloriosisVice-President of the Haute-Garonne Provincial Council (31); Christian FrankvilleMayor of Boulgneville, Community Counselor (88); Luik GachonMayor of Vitrolles, Member of the City Council of Aix-Marseille-Provence (13); Marianek GarinMayor of Clansayes, Community Adviser (26); Maxime Gerardincouncilor of the commune of Châlons-en-Champagne (51); Stefan Gomezfirst vice-mayor of Volks-en-Velen, member of the Lyon City Council (69); Jan GevilleDeputy Mayor of Brest, Deputy Mayor of Brest Metropol (22); Aida Hadizadehthe deputy mayor of Saint-Ouen-Lomon (95); Antoine HuaruDeputy Mayor of Dijon, Vice-President of the City of Dijon (21); Pierre HuneckMayor of Plouguiel, Community Counselor (22); Bruno Johncouncilor of the municipality of Lorient (56); John Paul Gendonmayor of Cergy, head of the urban community of Cergy-Pontoise (95); Chantal JoffroyDeputy Mayor of Trelazzi (49); Philip KimmelMayor Karvin, Vice President of the Urban Society of Henin Karvin (62); Muriel LaurentMayor of Vizin (69); Philip Le JouMayor of Bligen, Community Counselor (22); Vincent Le MoMayor of Ploiec du Trieu, and President Guingamp-Paimpol Agglomeration (22); Natalie LeBlancvice-president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region (71); David Martinmayor of Le Creusot, president of the urban community Le Creusot-Montceau (71); Baptist Menarthe deputy mayor of Mons-en-Barol (59); Brigitte GerardSenior Assistant to the Mayor of Izun, Community Adviser (33); Valentine NarboniDeputy Mayor of Columbus (92); Michelle NewgnotFirst Vice-President of the Region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (21); Laurent PerronMayor of Le Relecq-Kerhuon, Vice-President of Brest Métropole (29); Martin Bienvillea regional advisor (16); Patrick RatushniakNoizil Deputy Mayor (77); Daniel Regiscouncilor of Villemur-sur-Tarn, community councilor (31); Mary Helen RaymondRouen municipal councilor, community advisor (42); Bertrand RingotMayor of Gravelines, Vice Chair of the Dunkirk Community Council (59); Paul RoachBrave City Councilor, Community Counselor (19); Isabelle Ruvarinomunicipal councilor of Vitrolles, member of the city council of Aix-Marseille-Provence (13); Christelle RoechartMayor of Saint-Sauveur-Gouvernet (26); Marie-Pierre SadornySenior Assistant to the Mayor of Ortava, Vice President of the Provincial Council of the Pyrenees Orientales, Community Counselor (66); Jean Noel Salmoncouncilor of the municipality of Villefontaine, community councilor (38); David SamsonMayor of Saint-Nazaire, President of Saint-Nazaire-Aglu (44); Christine Tavoro Hardyregional advisor, municipal advisor (72); Rashid TamalSenator for Val-D’oise, Provincial Councilor for Ile-de-France (95); Jean Jacques ThomasMayor of Hierson, President of the Community of Municipalities of Trois-Rivières (02); Yannick VaugrenardSenator for the Loire-Atlantique (44); Clotilde Vega Retrievercouncilor of the commune of Clichy (92); Jean-Marc VisouzMayor of Cahors, President of the Urban Community of Grand Cahors (46);