Death of Nahel in Nanterre: between emotion and support for the police, the political cl is divided

After the stupor, an avalanche of declarations. The day after the death of Nahel, 17 years old, killed by a police officer during a road check in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine), the political cl as a whole reacted this Wednesday, June 28. After a Council of Ministers which he chaired by videoconference from Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Emmanuel Macron spoke of “the emotion of the entire Nation” following the death of the teenager whomhe deemed “unexplainable” and “inexcusable”. “Nothing, nothing justifies the death of a young person,” insisted the President of the Republic.

Echoing this, Élisabeth Borne estimated, from the Senate, in the afternoon, that “the shocking images” broadcast on social networks “show an intervention that is not clearly not in line with our law enforcement rules of engagement “. Still before the senators, the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin confirmed that “sanctions will be taken against a police officer”.

At the same time in the embly, in a sparse hemicycle, the deputies observed a minute of silence. A little earlier, twenty-six deputies from Nupes, Insoumis, environmentalists and socialists, had gathered in the gardens of the Palais-Bourbon carrying a sign calling for “Justice and truth” for the young man. Jean-Luc Mélenchon had just explained on Twitter that “this police must be completely overhauled, its murderers punished”. The Insoumis also renewed their request for a commission of inquiry into “the increase in deaths following refusals to comply”.

“It’s up to justice to do its job”, defends Éric Ciotti

Reactions against which the police unions Alliance and SGP-FO protested, both claiming “the right to the presumption of innocence” for the police. For Alliance Police, “it is inconceivable that the President of the Republic, like certain politicians, artists or others, flout the separation of powers and the independence of justice by condemning our colleagues even before it takes a decision”.

A message shared by many on the right and the far right. “It is up to justice to do its job, and that does not change the support that we must give to those who protect us”, judged the boss of LR Éric Ciotti.

The patron saint of deputies RN Marine Le Pen described Emmanuel Macron’s remarks as “irresponsible”. “The president is ready to forget constitutional principles to try to put out a potential fire,” she criticized, referring to the outbreak of urban violence that followed Nahel’s death on Tuesday evening. “Emmanuel Macron chose his France”, for his part tackled Éric Zemmour, accusing him of “cowardice”.