Posted on 11/15/2005 2:04:15 PM PST by Lorianne
French President Jacques Chirac has vowed to create new opportunities for young people in an effort to prevent any resurgence of urban violence. In his first national address since the riots began, Mr Chirac spoke of "crisis of meaning, a crisis of identity".
He condemned the "poison" of racism, and announced measures for the training of 50,000 youths in 2007.
Mr Chirac, who has been accused of weak leadership during the crisis, also said the rioters must be brought to justice.
He pledged to crack down on illegal immigration.
He also confirmed that the government of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin would ask parliament to extend an emergency law allowing the imposition of curfews in towns across the country.
The president spoke as police and local authorities around France waited anxiously for proof that the prolonged period of violence is coming to an end.
Some 162 cars were burned on Monday night, the police said, down from a peak of over 1,000 a week earlier.
A measure of calm has returned to Paris, although there was trouble in Toulouse and some remote towns.
Equality
Speaking at the Elysee Palace in front of the flags of France and the EU, Mr Chirac said the wave of violence had highlighted a "deep malaise" within French society.
How many CVs are thrown in the waste paper basket just because of the name or the address of the applicant?
Jacques Chirac
Excerpts: Chirac address
"We are all aware of discrimination," the president said, calling for equal opportunities for the young and rejecting suggestions of a US-style quota system.
"How many CVs are thrown in the waste paper basket just because of the name or the address of the applicant?"
He was quick to defend the rule of law, sternly criticising those who turned to violence to vent their anger.
"Many French people have difficulties, but violence never solves anything. [If] one belongs to our national community one must respect the rules."
Fraternity
France would respond to the violence, Mr Chirac insisted, by staying faithful to the values of the Republic.
He called the rioters "sons and daughters of the Republic", but warned that respect among all French nationals was crucial to the long term strength of the nation.
About 300 protesters joined a rally led by Le Pen
"We will never build anything long-lasting without fighting this poison of racism."
Mr Chirac also warned that parents must work hard to ensure a respect for the law among their children.
"The justice system has been alerted," he added.
"Everyone must know that the law cannot be broken with impunity."
On Monday evening the far-right leader Jean-Marie le Pen led a protest against France's immigration laws.
Addressing a crowd of about 300 National Front supporters he criticised France's immigration policies.
"We let in 10 million foreigners over 30 years - it's wild insanity. No country can handle that invasion," Mr Le Pen said.
He said that France was now "paying the bill" for its "mad and criminal immigration from the Third World".
Raise taxes on the employed to pay off the rioters, causing loss of jobs, requiring more taxes ...round and round...
"This time I really mean it."
I guess that makes him eligible for the Nobel Prize in 20 years.
tax payers in France better get ready to grab their ankles.
Jock Strap is an old arrogant empty suit.
SURRENDER....THE WHITE FLAG IS UP.
when Frances economy completely collapses under the weight of its socialism, he will blame some "anglo-saxon" conspiracy by the USA.
Speaking at the Elysee Palace in front of the WHITE flags of France and the EU, Mr Chirac said the wave of violence had highlighted a "deep malaise" within French society.
I'm figuring we will be so busy saving the surrender monkeys that he won't open his mouth. You just know they can't find their way out of a paper bag.
"Raise taxes on the employed to pay off the rioters, causing loss of jobs, requiring more taxes ...round and round"...
Promising long prison sentences would be preferable.
PARIS (AP) -- Le président du Mouvement pour la France (MPF) Philippe de Villiers a estimé lundi soir que Jacques Chirac "ne comprend plus rien à la France et s'acharne sur un modèle multiculturel".
"L'impression que j'ai eue ce soir c'est qu'avec les mots diversité, discrimination, et obligation pour les communes de faire des HLM, (Jacques) Chirac s'est érigé en chef du parti des immigrés et des jeunes de banlieues, plutôt qu'en porte-parole de la France qui souffre", a-t-il lancé sur France-Info.
"Après l'expérience l'Angleterre, les Pays-Bas, la France, (Jacques) Chirac aurait dû mettre le holà et proposer une politique d'immigration zéro", a noté le député européen.
Jacques Chirac "a commencé son parcours national en 1974 et a pris une mesure très grave: le regroupement familial", a-t-il rappelé. "Il avait l'occasion, à la suite des événements très très graves que nous connaissons avec la guerre des banlieues, d'annoncer ce soir qu'il revenait sur cette erreur fatale".
"La cause des causes des guerres des banlieues, c'est la vague migratoire que nous subissons depuis trente ans, justement depuis le regroupement familial", a affirmé le président du MPF.
This JockStrap guy is hilarious! Between him and Chavez, I can't decide who I find more entertaining! And the anti-Bush crowd calls the POTUSA an idiot?! PuLeez!
What's the over/under on flaming Renaults tonight?
Maybe he should give some thought to the poison of denial.
And of confusing race, religion, and sedition.
Any country that elects a bozo like Chirac deserves what it get...Oops! Didn't we elect Jimmy Carter??? (But only once.)
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