On Monday, October 5, Laurent Nuñez, the minister of the Interior, responded to questions from members of La France insoumise (LFI) in the National Assembly. The discussion centered on his approach to maintaining public order and the conduct of law enforcement during recent student protests. These protests were linked to debates over a proposed comprehensive law aimed at combating sexual and gender-based violence. The session, which took place during the night of Monday to Tuesday, featured several exchanges between Nuñez and LFI members, who sought accountability for incidents involving both students and police.
LFI deputy Sarah Legrain highlighted specific cases that had sparked concern. She referenced the incident in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumone, where a student suffered facial injuries, and the cases of two officers accused of making inappropriate remarks. One officer in Perpignan allegedly told a teacher he enjoyed touching her, while another in Metz was accused of touching a young woman who had been restrained. These incidents raised questions about police behavior and the handling of protests.
Nuñez responded by stating he would "account for the way [he] maintains public order" in France. He also confirmed that disciplinary procedures were being taken in the Perpignan case, as is standard practice. When questioned by Danièle Obono (LFI), Nuñez rejected the notion of "impunity in the police," dismissing claims of systemic violence within the force as "fantasies." He accused critics of harboring a "hatred" for the police and gendarmerie.
Nuñez reiterated his doctrine on maintaining order, emphasizing that he does not support a lack of intervention when there is violence or property damage. He advocated for "restraint in the proportionality of interventions" and noted that over 6,000 arrests had been made, with only a few complaints filed with the National Police Oversight Authority (IGPN). Meanwhile, tensions flared between deputy Caroline Yadan, affiliated with Ensemble pour la République, and left-wing deputies. Yadan accused LFI of using the sexual violence law to advance their own agenda and called Jean-Luc Mélenchon, LFI's leader, a "guru." This was criticized by Clémentine Autain (Ecologist and Social) and Gabrielle Cathala (LFI), who condemned the remarks as inflammatory and inappropriate.
Parliamentary debate over police conduct and student protests intensifies
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Original sources:
- 🇫🇷LCP



