00:00What happened yesterday was witnessed in many cities across mainland France as well as in our overseas territories.
00:07Yesterday, Saturday, October 17th, extremists from far-left groups joined by numerous criminals unleashed widespread violence in our cities.
00:17Shops were looted, public buildings, businesses and town halls were attacked and some were destroyed.
00:24Several hundred police officers in jeans were injured.
00:28Looking at these images, we all asked ourselves, what is going through their minds?
00:34How can French citizens do this to France?
00:37Why burn down the town hall in Limoges, the tourist office in Lyon, storm the town hall in Marseille, or
00:44attack the prefect residents in Bordeaux?
00:47How can anyone go this far?
00:50Nothing justifies it. Nothing explains it. Nothing excuses it.
00:55Tonight, we all feel anger and shame.
00:59Seeing our city's streets vandalized in this way is unbearable.
01:04On your behalf, I express the nation's support for our law enforcement officers and internal security forces.
01:10They stood their ground and did the best they could.
01:13Our thoughts are with the many injured officers and their families.
01:17I also express our support for all our mayors and elected officials.
01:21I want to extend that support to the many shopkeepers, craftspeople, and business owners who have suffered the consequences of
01:29this violence and now are facing distressing circumstances.
01:33Some defended their own shops and storefronts against the rioters.
01:37I want them to know that they will not be left alone to face these difficulties.
01:41The government will provide answers.
01:44As early as tomorrow, the prime minister will chair a crisis response meeting to mobilize assistance as quickly as possible
01:51and support everyone going through these extremely difficult hours.
01:55We must face the facts.
01:58Yesterday, despite their professionalism, our law enforcement officers were subjected to extraordinary violence in numerous cities, repeatedly.
02:07I have asked the government to draw all the necessary lessons regarding intelligence gathering and preparedness and to ensure that
02:14this cannot happen again.
02:16I expect clear answers and full transparency will be provided.
02:20That is what I have asked of the interior minister.
02:24Investigations will be conducted with all due diligence and as quickly as possible.
02:28The Minister of Justice has instructed prosecutors to pursue the cases with the utmost firmness.
02:34Judicial follow-up must set an example.
02:37Our judges administer justice in your name, and they know what you expect of them.
02:43Whenever offenses are committed, they must lead to appropriate judicial action.
02:48Those who destroyed property must pay.
02:50Those who looted must reimburse their victims.
02:54Those who sought to bring down the republic will have to answer for their actions.
02:59We must also look clearly and honestly at what is being expressed across the country.
03:04Yesterday, several hundreds of our fellow citizens demonstrated because they wanted to put forward legitimate grievances.
03:10We must never confuse these demonstrators with those who destroyed, smashed, and looted.
03:17The demonstrators expressed concerns about the cost of living and fuel prices, which have been affected by the conflict that
03:23began in the Persian Gulf, a conflict in which France has not participated, but the consequences of which we are
03:29experiencing.
03:29I fully understand their concerns.
03:33They are being expressed in several other European capitals as well.
03:37In response, I have taken several international initiatives to secure our fuel and gas supplies and address developments in energy
03:44markets.
03:45I will continue these efforts tomorrow morning by traveling to the Gulf countries to secure our supplies.
03:51The Prime Minister and the government have also taken decisions in coordination with fuel distributors to ensure that these efforts
03:58translate into tangible reductions in prices.
04:01The government is doing everything possible to address this essential issue of purchasing power.
04:08I know that the French people expect concrete results, and we will continue to act.
04:13For several months now, our young people have also been expressing deep anxiety in high schools and universities.
04:20They are worried about their future, their living and studying conditions, their ability to choose a career path, plan ahead,
04:27and find their place in society.
04:29In other words, they fear that there may be no future worth looking at.
04:34I understand our high school and university students.
04:38They have been at the heart of my political commitment for more than 10 years.
04:42Their voices must be heard without prejudice and without minimizing their difficulties.
04:47The government has already begun working on this.
04:50The Minister of National Education has taken action and established a platform that has received 100,000 contributions in addition
04:58to meetings held across regional education authorities and high schools.
05:02This will enable us to develop appropriate responses together with our young people.
05:07Our responsibility, therefore, is twofold.
05:11To listen to people's anger and address its causes while firmly upholding public order under the Republic.
05:17We must neither confuse legitimate grievances with violence nor allow violence to prevent those grievances from being heard.
05:25That is why I want to set out a clear approach tonight.
05:29First, given the current circumstances, prefects will work with mayors to protect our cities, public buildings, and businesses.
05:37This includes banning certain gatherings when necessary and taking whatever other measures are required.
05:43Second, I call on all political parties, professional organizations, and trade unions to condemn all violence unequivocally and call for
05:52calm.
05:53Everyone must take responsibility.
05:56The country needs order and calm, not escalation.
06:00In the coming days, the Prime Minister will bring the relevant groups together to obtain clear and public positions.
06:06Third, we cannot ask our young people to believe in the future without giving them the opportunity to help shape
06:13solutions and have a seat at the table.
06:16Yes, we must sit down and develop solutions.
06:19Students, teachers, representatives of employers, organizations, and trade unions, local authorities, and members of parliament will work with the government
06:28starting this week to put forward concrete proposals.
06:32The Prime Minister will convene them in the coming days.
06:35I want to be absolutely clear.
06:38When it comes to rioters and anyone engaging in violence, we will show no tolerance.
06:43Listening and dialogue do not mean weakness or impunity.
06:48My fellow citizens, we are now six months away from our presidential election.
06:53Six months.
06:55And so all those who are telling you today that the urgent priority is to get to the streets, demonstrate
07:00and create disorder, have an objective to damage the Republic and hijack the political debate.
07:06The choices we will have to make about our future in six months are essential.
07:12France is a great democratic power.
07:14It deserves a proper debate.
07:16That debate must take place at public meetings.
07:19It must take place through political parties, not through violence in the streets.
07:24It must take place in newspapers, on television programs, and at peaceful gatherings where people can speak and explain their
07:31positions respectfully, not through disorder and destruction.
07:36Our country deserves a presidential election worthy of its democracy in six months.
07:41The outcome is also being shaped now through a spirit of responsibility.
07:47Yes to dialogue.
07:48Yes to concrete, short-term solutions and to preparing the decisions of the future.
07:54But always no to violence, whatever form it takes.
07:58We need unity, calm and respect.
08:02Long live the Republic and long live France.
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