Under pressure after the terrorist attack in Paris and the Crépol drama, the Prime Minister once again reopens the security project

Imprisoning terrorists for longer, even after the end of their sentence, and punishing young offenders more severely, these are the two main avenues that Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne outlines in an interview with Figaro Thursday December 7 [article payant], after the Islamist attack on the Bir-Hakeim bridge in Paris and the murder of young Thomas in Crépol. No specific commitment, but “all proposals can be on the table”, she assures us about the security detention that Éric Ciotti and Marine Le Pen want to strengthen for radicalized prisoners who can be released. On the delinquency side, Élisabeth Borne promises a text on juvenile justice at the start of the year to “better empower parents” and have “more appropriate and harsher sanctions for young people”.

A tragedy, a new law… We have known about this mechanism in force for many years in terms of security. This is the danger that Élisabeth Borne runs, giving the impression of reacting rather than acting, appearing in the wake of attacks or news items that mourn the news. The other risk is to appear to be running behind the right, for example, on the security detention that Eric Ciotti wants to extend to radicalized people deemed dangerous, even before they have committed the act, that is- that is to say to most of the S files, or on the convention which binds France and Algeria on immigration, a text that Élisabeth Borne wants to renegotiate at the time when LR wishes its deletion. It is therefore a risky speech, but less so than silence.

Remember who is boss

Firstly because in view of the career of the Bir-Hakeim terrorist, who thwarted the surveillance of which he was subject, Élisabeth Borne must defend the government’s anti-terrorist action, and accept the desire to review it for the to strenghten. It must also reassure rural France affected by the tragedy of Crépol, show that the government is not inactive, for example, by recalling the announcement of the creation of 239 gendarmerie brigades. And then this speech also has an internal political vocation for the majority. At a time when so many ambitious ministers are busy and already seem to be looking towards 2027 and the post-Macron era, Gérald Darmanin, Bruno Le Maire or Gabriel Attal, Élisabeth Borne reminds them who remains the head of government. Way to ensure your own safety, in Matignon.