Some of the presidential candidates will come to listen to the grievances of the police on Wednesday. Only part because if Alliance, one of the main trade unions in the profession, invited some of the contenders to the Elysee on Wednesday, the left will not be represented at this “great oral” on security issues.
Valérie Pécresse (LR), Gérald Darmanin on behalf of putative LREM candidate Emmanuel Macron, Eric Zemmour (Reconquest!) and Marine Le Pen (RN) are expected for this debate to be held at the “Club de l’étoile” cinema in Paris from 11:30 a.m. PS candidate Anne Hidalgo and communist Fabien Roussel declined the invitation, as did Yannick Jadot (EELV).
As for Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France insoumise), Alliance did not invite him. “What is the point of discussing with a candidate who only advocates anti-cop hatred, police bashing? “, justified the secretary general of Alliance Fabien Vanhemelryck, “it would not have advanced the debate”. “We are not here to rate the candidates, but to bring the debate to life on an essential subject for the French”, continued the trade unionist, who said “regret” the absence of the other left-wing candidates.
The participants will come one by one in front of the audience. They will have 15 minutes to present their “vision of tomorrow’s security” before answering questions from the audience. Some will relate to technical aspects, such as the maintenance of order for example, or more general aspects such as pension reform or the protection of police officers.
Film screening North ferry
To launch the debate, the first of its kind for a police union, Alliance chose to project the film North ferry, which is inspired by the true story of three police officers implicated for their excesses in the northern districts of Marseille. Several right-wing and far-right candidates have referred to it to support their security proposals, to the chagrin of its director Cédric Jimenez. Police officers involved in the case will also be present at the debate.
A matter of concern for the French, the fight against delinquency gives rise to numerous proposals from presidential candidates. Marine Le Pen promises a budget increase of 7.7 billion euros over five years to create 7,000 police and gendarme posts and double the number of magistrates. She also criticized the notion of “excusable defense” that Eric Zemmour wants to introduce to respond to “thugs”. For her part, Valérie Pécresse defends “zero impunity” to reduce insecurity. Even if he has not yet officially requested a second term, Emmanuel Macron wants to double the number of police officers on the ground by 2030.