In the wake of the demonstrations on 17 October, France is proving to be a powder keg – as was evident in Emmanuel Macron’s address to the nation yesterday.
In an address to the nation, broadcast across all channels last night, the President took a tougher stance than ever against the rioters, emphasising and stressing key words such as ‘Shame’ and ‘Anger’, whilst promising firm action and harsh penalties for the rioters
As well as expressing solidarity with the police and taking responsibility for the lack of preparation and prevention of the events, Macron urged citizens not to confuse peaceful demonstrators – who were protesting for noble causes – with rioters. His speech clearly contained jibes and accusations – whether direct or not – aimed at Mélenchon and his Ultra-Gauche, mentioned in the opening seconds of his address, but also at Marine Le Pen, who can only stand to gain politically by exploiting the protests, reducing them to the actions of people who had little to do with the protests themselves
Macron’s speech sounds like that of an abdicated king who, after years in power, is leaving France in a state of political, social and economic uncertainty.
