After the stupor, an avalanche of statements. The day after the death of Nahel, 17, killed by a police officer during a road check in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine), the political class as a whole reacted on Wednesday, June 28. After a Council of Ministers that he chaired by videoconference from Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Emmanuel Macron evoked "the emotion of the entire Nation" following the death of the teenager he deemed "inexplicable" and "inexcusable". "Nothing, nothing justifies the death of a young person," insisted the President of the Republic.
VIDEO. Death of Nahel in Nanterre: "It's inexplicable, inexcusable," says Emmanuel Macron
In echo, Elisabeth Borne said, from the Senate, in the afternoon, that "the shocking images" broadcast on social networks "show an intervention that is clearly not in accordance with the rules of engagement of our police forces". Still before the senators, the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin confirmed that "sanctions will be taken against a police officer".
At the same time in the Assembly, in a sparse Chamber, Members observed a minute's silence. A little earlier, twenty-six deputies of the Nupes, Insoumis, ecologists and socialists, had gathered in the gardens of the Palais-Bourbon carrying a sign demanding "Justice and truth" for the young man. Jean-Luc Mélenchon had just explained on Twitter that "this police must be completely refounded, its murderers punished". The Insubordinates also renewed their request for a commission of inquiry into "the increase in deaths following refusals to comply".
"It's up to justice to do its job," defends Eric Ciotti
Reactions against which the police unions Alliance and SGP-FO have rebelled, both demanding "the right to the presumption of innocence" for police officers. For Alliance Police, "it is inconceivable that the President of the Republic, like some politicians, artists or others, flout the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary by condemning our colleagues even before it pronounces itself".
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A message shared by many on the right and far right. "It is up to justice to do its job, and this does not change the support we must give to those who protect us," said LR boss Eric Ciotti.
The boss of the RN deputies Marine Le Pen has qualified as "irresponsible" the remarks of Emmanuel Macron. "The president is ready to forget constitutional principles to try to extinguish a potential fire," she said, referring to the surge in urban violence that followed Nahel's death on Tuesday night. "Emmanuel Macron has chosen his France," said Eric Zemmour, accusing him of "cowardice".