Faced with accusations of police violence from the left, Gérald Darmanin replies that the police and the gendarmes “are real security workers”.
After the failure of the two motions of censure tabled against the government, the majority and the deputies of the New People’s Ecological and Social Union (Nupes) clashed sharply on Tuesday, March 22, during the session of questions to the government at the National Assembly. La Nupes denounces in particular a “repressive arsenal”a “brutal repression” and “arbitrary arrests” by the forces during the spontaneous demonstrations of recent days after the use of 49.3 to have the pension reform adopted without a vote.
>> Pension reform of deputies and magistrates denounce police violence during demonstrations
The rebellious Andy Kerbrat, deputy for Loire-Atlantique, goes so far as to give particularly raw details on certain arrests: “I quote a victim: ‘I have to rummage through your panties, you’re dirty, it disgusts me. You smell bad. I will search you in the pussy’relates Andy Kerbrat. Who could say that by slipping his hand into the genitals of a young student? These are police officers during a body search last Tuesday in my constituency.”
“The disorder is not the demonstrations, it is not the strikes. The disorder is you with your reform, with your requisitions and your police brutality.”
Andy Kerbrat, deputy Insoumisduring the government question session
Gérald Darmanin stands before the elected Insoumis, calling on the deputies to salute the work of the police. “I would like to have a word for these 394 injured policemen and gendarmes”, replied the Minister of the Interior. The deputies RN, LR, the majority, stand up to pay tribute to the wounded among the police. But the left-wing parliamentarians remain seated under the boos of their colleagues.
A battle of numbers
The Minister of the Interior raises his eyebrows to show annoyance before adding that “it is not, in the rule of law, to attack public buildings, to ransack town halls, to set fire to prefectures, to throw Molotov cocktails at the gendarmes and the police. And thank you for supporting these people who are true security workers.”. A battle of numbers ensues. The left denounces 400 arbitrary arrests, which the association Amnesty International France also criticizes. Gérald Darmanin lists 1,200 undeclared demonstrations since the triggering of article 49.3.
For the socialist Olivier Faure, a muscular response from the police after a reform by 49.3 can turn into an explosive cocktail. “These are children who demonstrate and who face methods that have changed radically in the past week. What are you waiting for? Chaos, to embody order?
“Are you expecting a drama so that you finally agree that you do not have a majority on this reform?”
Olivier Faure, first secretary of the PSduring the government question session
“You’re Playing With Fire”, accuses the First Secretary of the PS against the executive. The patron saint of environmentalists in the National Assembly Cyrielle Châtelain gives a layer: “You surround the French and you lie without shame to the French. Because yes, you seek to make the street silent. But what will it take for you to listen to them? Wounded, dead?” Response from Elisabeth Borne. “When some choose the strategy of chaos, shouting, insults. How dare you reproach us for the violence in the street?”
After a confrontation on the form, the substance of the reform, its examination, its way of having it adopted, the showdown with the left is now shifting to how to manage the crisis, which is still open.