May 1 demonstrations: “A new level has been reached in violence”, denounces Borne

2023-05-02 17:23:20

The clashes in the May Day demonstrations were obviously on the menu of questions to the government on Tuesday, after a heavy toll of damage and injuries – more than 400, particularly among the police and gendarmes. After her immediate condemnation on Twitter of “unacceptable violence”, Elisabeth Borne felt that “a new level has been crossed”. Questioned in the hemicycle by Laurent Marcangeli, president of the Horizons group, the Prime Minister warned that all “public officials” should “condemn her with the greatest firmness”.

“The perpetrators of these abuses” against the police “will be identified and brought to justice”, also announced the tenant of Matignon before the National Assembly.

On the sidelines of the May 1 demonstrations, 540 people were arrested in France, including 305 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. Minister Gérald Darmanin called for “the strongest criminal sanctions against those who attack the police”, calling for an “anti-thug law”. Claims made by the main police unions.

“Social progress will not come from the sound of pans”

“In several large cities, such as Paris, Lyon or Nantes, violent groups mingled with peaceful processions with one objective: to attack the forces of order and create disorder and chaos. (…) This violence is intolerable and we must all, public officials, condemn it with the greatest firmness”, called Élisabeth Borne. These events are “intolerable” because they “instrumentalise the right to demonstrate, overshadow ideas, create significant damage in the public space and cause injuries”, she added.

In many cities in France, this May Day was a moment of responsible mobilization and commitment. The scenes of violence on the sidelines of the processions are all the more unacceptable.
Support for our law enforcement.

— Élisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) May 1, 2023

The Prime Minister nevertheless insisted on recalling that “the vast majority of the demonstrations had gone perfectly”. Also questioned by Cyrielle Chatelain, the boss of the EELV deputies at the Palais Bourbon on the question of pension reforms and consultation with the unions, Élisabeth Borne judged that “social progress will not come from the noise of the pans but from dialogue with social partners”.