In the cabinet meeting following a government reshuffle, President Emmanuel Macron cautioned his government to learn from the recent riots triggered by the police shooting of a teenager, highlighting the risk of fragmentation in France. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of stabilizing France’s finances.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday asked his government to draw lessons from recent riots sparked by the police shooting of a teenager, or risk deep divisions in France.

The killing of Nahel M., 17, during a traffic stop last month prompted protests, riots, and looting, with many accusing the government of allowing a culture of institutional racism in the police force to fester.

At a cabinet meeting a day after a government reshuffle, Macron said the riots had highlighted “a risk of fragmentation, of deep division, of the nation.”

There was a “need for authority and respect,” Macron told the ministers.
“We must draw the lessons from what happened and provide sound answers,” he said.

Macron said this task would “shape” the government’s work after the summer break.

The most intense urban violence since 2005 sparked a debate about law and order, immigration, racism, and police brutality.

Thursday’s cabinet revamp has been widely interpreted as a signal by Macron to move on from a series of crises since his re-election last year, including widespread protests over a hike in the French retirement age.

The reshuffle was limited in scope, with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, crucially, remaining in her post.

That choice reflected his wish for “continuity and efficiency,” Macron said.

Macron also told the cabinet meeting that France needed to bring its finances back on a solid footing after spending to bolster the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Energy subsidies for households triggered a sharp rise in deficits and debt.

“After the summer, we will have to prepare the country, in a way, for a demanding framework and order in terms of public finances,” Macron said.

He added, it would put France in a position to start repaying debt, cut taxes further and allow “a reasonable management of our deficits.”

Miroslava Salazar with AFP