Macron Vows "Comprehensive Solutions" in Response to Recent Unrest

Macron Promises "Fundamental Responses"

France's President Macron has announced during a meeting with 240 mayors that he will thoroughly examine the causes of the recent unrest. The extensive police presence in the country will be maintained for the time being.

President Emmanuel Macron of France received numerous mayors whose municipalities have been affected by violent protests in recent days. Out of 500 invited mayors, approximately 240 accepted the invitation, according to the Élysée Palace.

During the meeting, Macron promised "fundamental responses." He stated that it was not about repeating things that had been practiced for decades, as reported by BFMTV. Rather, what was needed was a "response commensurate with what we have experienced." It was stated from his entourage that he intended to "initiate long-term work to understand the reasons behind these events."

In addition to moral support, Macron wanted to offer assistance in repairing damaged town halls and other public facilities at the meeting. Police presence to remain for now

The nationwide extensive police presence is to be maintained as it acts as a deterrent, according to Macron. If this is not sufficient, security forces should take an "offensive" approach.

During a meeting with police officers on Monday evening, Macron advocated for swift sanctioning options. "Families should be quickly financially penalized for the first offense," he said, according to a report by the newspaper "Le Parisien." The days-long unrest in France, which also targeted town halls, was triggered by the death of the teenager Nahel M. The 17-year-old was shot by a police officer at close range from the driver's seat of a car during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre last Tuesday.

Account from a passenger with Nahel

"On Monday, 'Le Parisien' published an account of the sequence of events from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy who was sitting in the back seat of the car. The boy's father had conveyed the account to the newspaper. According to the boy, Nahel coincidentally met him in the morning and offered to drive him to a school exam. The young man reportedly did not comply with an initial order from the police to stop. When the traffic slowed down, the police caught up with the car and pointed their weapons at Nahel.

One of them threatened to shoot him in the head. In panic, Nahel may have accidentally slipped his foot off the brake of the automatic car, causing it to move. One officer urged the other to shoot. Nahel reportedly said, 'He's crazy, he shot,' before slumping lifelessly and the car crashing into a barrier. The officer who fired the shot at the teenager is now being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter.

During the unrest in the night to Tuesday, 72 people were arrested. The Ministry of the Interior stated that no police officers were injured. The unrest continued to subside, and no major incidents were reported either.