Following the urban violence triggered in reaction to the death of Nahel, who was shot by police in Nanterre, Christian Estrosi is calling for national unity. The opposition and the majority gathered in front of the town hall on July 3 at 6 p.m. for a rally in defense of republican values.
The first words are dedicated to law enforcement. Christian Estrosi, in front of the Nice town hall, is keen to highlight their mobilization and express his full support following a sixth night of unrest, which was calmer than previous ones. To prevent a seventh night, the Ministry of the Interior announced the continuation of its unprecedented measures, 45,000 police officers remain deployed across France.
This gathering was organized in support of attacked officials, particularly the mayor of L’Haÿ-les-Roses, who has become a symbol of the urban violence occurring throughout the country since June 27. A mobilization to defend republican values. “We believe in this beautiful project of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and we declare: we will not allow further insult to the Republic”, he exclaims.
On the platform, municipal councilors from the majority and opposition stand together by his side, with serious expressions. In front of them, more than a hundred residents of Nice have shown up. Among the crowd gathered on Rue Saint-François De Paule, a few placards stand out. They read “No pocket money for brats — Breakers pay” or “End inequality, the same justice for all”.
Sanctioning delinquent minors and their parents
These riots differ from those in 2005 due to the youth of the offenders. The average age does not exceed 17, specified Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior. Thus, the call for national unity, as Christian Estrosi directs it, is against delinquent minors and their parents who, in his view, evade their responsibilities. “They are outside the Nation, and we need to judge, prosecute, and condemn them as being positioned outside the French Nation”, he asserts.
Therefore, he renews his request to the government, shared yesterday on his Twitter account, to ‘lower the age of criminal responsibility’. A measure that would give “justice the means to penalize these delinquents”, he had written. Establishing more appropriate laws to sanction both minors and their parents is what the mayor is calling for, as he also points out the central role of social media in organizing these riots.
“It’s time for parental responsibility to be acknowledged, so that when one is unable to control their children in such a situation, the parents are sought out and sanctioned”. In this sense, the mayor of Nice advocates for the withdrawal of social benefits from the parents of delinquent minors. Simultaneously, the mayor strongly condemns politicians who would encourage rioters “to act against the Republic”.
A call for national unity
“In these times we are living in, we have the duty to come together in national unity. When I speak of national unity, it is simply about the unity of citizens who recognize themselves in the same nation. There is only one nation; it is called the French Republic”, he emphasizes. It is with the help of civic mobilization that he calls to “restore republican order”.
The mayor of Nice makes a “great call” for citizens to symbolically gather on July 14, “around the security forces and our armies”. A parade will take place at 6 p.m. on the Promenade des Anglais for the national holiday.
The mayor of Nice concludes his speech with applause. Nahel’s name is not mentioned, nor is there a moment of silence in his honor. “La Marseillaise” resounds. The assembly joins in singing the national anthem in unison, before the mayor invites the uniformed officers to stand beside him. The gathering ends with an ovation for law enforcement.
