Riots in France: The Failure of Centrist policies by Macron

The visuals of arson, looting, and plunder of the French cities over the past couple of weeks have made many people around the globe weep. A nation that pioneered the values of Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality in Christian Europe, has descended into chaos and lawlessness. French President Emmanuel Macron is being held responsible for this because of his policies and rhetoric. Macron has tried to be the centrist in France over the last 8 years and that has resulted in the French state losing the monopoly on violence.

 

 

 

By now, most of us must have heard or read about the 2005 riots in France when the state of emergency was declared by then-President Jacques Chirac. But those riots were slightly different. Those riots took place largely in the areas where the Immigrant population lived. They stupidly burnt down their own neighborhoods. This time they are burning the Native French neighborhoods and city centers across France. 18 years later, they have learned their lesson.

 

 

Immigration is the truth in the Western world for last several decades now. Countries like US, Canada, and UK are the countries with the maximum number of immigrants in the Western world. But countries like France and recently Germany and Sweeden have a different kind of immigration. All these countries and especially France has almost all of their immigrants from the North African countries. To be more specific, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. These used to be the French colonies and hence the people had the option of immigrating to France or staying in those countries. All of these are Muslim countries. Hence the Immigrants are also Muslim. Unlike US, UK, and Canada, which have immigrants from across the world and various cultures and religions, France does not. This creates the problem of unified, culturally non-French, French citizens in the heart of France.

 

 

President Macron has tried to implement centrist policies ever since he got elected. The Yellow Vests protests or the Gilets Jaunes protests erupted in France in 2018. The protests were ignited by the Fuel tax to tackle carbon emissions. This resulted in both the Left and Right wing in France protesting for different reasons. Right was protesting against the ‘Green’ plan. And the Left protested against economic inequality. The protests were termed the most violent since the May 1968 protests in France. Finally, in December 2018, Macron appeared on TV and announced the cancellation of Fuel Tax. This did not end the protests, although it ended the violence to a large extent.

 

 

 

A French teacher named Samuel Paty was beheaded for showing a cartoon of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed in a lecture on ‘Freedom of Expression’ on 16th October 2020, Macron visited the school and said it was “a typical Islamist terrorist attack.” Macron awarded the Légion d'honneur posthumously to Paty. He did not abandon Paty. This enraged the Islamists inside France as well as around the world. Pakistan, Turkey, and such Islamic countries broke diplomatic relations with France over the issue.

 

 

 

In early 2023, Macron introduced a law that extended the retirement age in France from 62 to 64. This agitated the Unions and the Left-wing organizations which led to protests across France, again. Over a million people in France participated in these protests.

 

 

Meanwhile, Macron’s government kept advocating for and facilitating Immigration from the North African Muslim Majority countries which made the Right in France go against Macron.

 

 

All these policies and decisions (without going into the merits of these decisions as of now) led to the French people and the State getting used to a constant state of violence. The State lost its monopoly on violence. The Left-wing Organizations and the Islamists joined hands and were waiting for an opportunity. Then, on 27th June 2023, Nahel Merzouk, a Muslim, African French immigrant was shot dead by the French police for driving without a license and not stopping even after the police's insistence. The stage was set, the organizations were ready, and the State was not.

 

Also Read: Violence In France Has its Roots in Racial Discrimination 

 

What followed later can be seen on any social media platform or any traditional media platform. Although the reports of the Death of the French State were grossly exaggerated, these riots by the Islamists and the Left has galvanized the RIght in France like never before in recent history. In 2027, Macron won't be able to contest according to French law as this is his second term. This means Marine Le Pen, the head of National Rally, a Right Wing Party in France would benefit. But the prestige and social cohesion in France seem to have suffered a deadly blow.

 

Also Read: Hundreds march in support of French mayor whose house was attacked by burning car 

 

This is a lesson for many countries across the world. The Centrist policies which are regularly advocated, eventually alienate both sides and leave you high and dry. As the old adage goes, you can't be half Pregnant. Politicians will have to be the conviction candidates, instead of consensus.