Gabriel Attal, government spokesperson, deplores the fact that republican unity was also quickly shattered after the tragedy of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) on Friday.
Since the beheading of Samuel Paty, the opposition has been shooting at the government.
You are criticized in particular for not doing enough.
Does this annoy you?
GABRIEL ATTAL.
Long before the law against separatism, we had initiated a turning point by fighting political Islam with unprecedented intensity.
My conviction is that the terrible drama that we are living is a historical moment which must translate into another turning point, this one political.
To achieve this, we must also be able to count on all the political forces.
However, I regret that they refuse it today.
Some have had a responsible, dignified, republican attitude, for example I am thinking of the Socialists and the Communists.
For the others, foremost among which The Republicans, since Friday we have witnessed a ball of cynics, reversals of jackets and empty ideas.
Marine Le Pen calls for the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry "to shed light on these facts and on the responsibilities".
Are you in favor of it?
I am used to never commenting on proposals for parliamentary committees of inquiry because Parliament is independent.
I am simply saying that there is a judicial investigation underway which is going quickly, and administrative inquiries to identify possible dysfunctions.
It seems important to me to let justice do its job.
And personally, I have more confidence in the justice of the Republic than in that of Madame Le Pen.
She said she would vote for the law against separatism.
Do you welcome this attitude?
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I take note of it.
I do not know if this is the beginning of Ms. Le Pen's awareness or rather the end of a moment of great hypocrisy that she could no longer afford because it was beginning to show.
She voted against all the laws that have enabled us to strengthen the security of the French and to fight terrorism.
She published a white paper on internal security in which she does not even mention terrorism.
She also dares to point the finger at the responsibility of the government in each tragedy, while we remember the presence of members of the National Front at the launch of the Cheikh Yassine collective that we dissolved.
LR offers a whole battery of measures: a test of secularism for the patent, an emergency toll-free number for teachers… Are there not some good ideas to remember?
We are ready to look at all ideas, with one compass: efficiency.
A valuation in the note to the patent of the commitment for the Republic, for example, it is a possibility which Jean-Michel Blanquer is considering.
For the rest, it's a bit like the Lépine competition already launched.
We are told of the expulsion of radicalized foreigners, but it is already underway.
The closing of radicalized mosques, idem;
I remind you that 350 places of radicalization have already been closed since 2018. As for the idea of a toll-free number for attacks on secularism, it's done… it was mentioned by Jean-Michel Blanquer last week.
Jean Castex brushed aside the idea of modifying the Constitution to include the preeminence of the rules of the Republic.
Why?
Basically, the meaning of the Constitution is to provide for the preeminence of the rules of the Republic.
Xavier Bertrand said that secularism had to be included, but fortunately it is already there!
Since they do not want to recognize that we are taking strong and unprecedented measures, they are embarking on this new ground.
Months, perhaps even years of debates, of legal quibbles to change the Constitution, it is light years from what the French expect, namely concrete, rapid and effective responses.
What did you think of the statement by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who spoke of "a problem with the Chechen community"?
It is difficult to see clearly.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon had very Republican remarks in the Assembly on Tuesday, but his party was still demonstrating a few months ago with groups that represent political Islam.
He also made this weekend at best clumsy remarks, at worst terribly cynical, pointing the finger at the "Chechen community", no doubt to avoid having to name the real problem, namely political Islam.
These words, which divided even within his political family, shocked me.
One does not respond to a fatwa with another fatwa.
That Jean-Luc Mélenchon corrects the situation.
It would be a good way to initiate a turning point in rebellious France which has too illustrated itself as the party of appeasement, shameful secularism and republican values with variable geometry.
Should we review moral and civic education in middle and high schools in the light of the tragedy of last week?
It is a republican and democratic necessity that I already defended in my previous functions as Secretary of State for National Education. New resources are needed to further support history and geography teachers in this teaching, the vocation of which is vital for the Republic: to develop a critical mind, to transmit the rights and duties of French citizens. I plead to condition the passage of students in upper class to the achievement of a certain number of hours of volunteer work during the year. This education should also be an opportunity for students to leave school and visit prisons, fire stations or police stations.
