Posted on 11/29/2007 6:14:51 PM PST by blam
Sarkozy blames Paris riots on 'thugocracy'
By Henry Samuel in Paris
Last Updated: 8:04pm GMT 29/11/2007
Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, has risked inflaming tensions in Parisian suburbs by declaring violence this week was the result of a "thugocracy" of criminals, not social deprivation.
His words came after three nights of violence sparked by the deaths of two teenagers in a crash with a police car.
President Sarkozy said the riots in the suburbs of Paris had nothing to do with a social crisis
At least 120 policemen were injured in the rioting that followed the accident in Villiers-le-Bel, north of Paris.
"What happened in Villiers-le-Bel has nothing to do with a social crisis. It has everything to do with a 'thugocracy'," Mr Sarkozy said in a speech to 2,000 gendarmes and policemen in Paris.
While the term was less provocative than his description of rioting youths in 2005 as "racaille" - scum - it was a clear indication that he had no intention of diluting his popular iron-fisted stance on the issue.
"I reject any form of other-worldly naivety that wants to see a victim of society in anyone who breaks the law, a social problem in any riot," he said.
"The response to the riots isn't yet more money on the backs of the taxpayers. The response to the riots is to arrest the rioters.
"We'll give more to those who want to get ahead honestly."
Dozens of shops were destroyed in unrest earlier this week, with more than a hundred cars, a school and a library burned.
The violence spread to surrounding towns and a library was set alight in a suburb of Toulouse, south-west France.
A "Marshall plan" to improve the suburbs, due in January, would not be brought forward as a result of the riots, Mr Sarkozy insisted.
"We will now invest in people. But let it be clear we will not do it because there were riots," he said.
Mr Sarkozy, who was due to give a key televised interview, promised to stick to his reform agenda after seeing through a key strike over pension reform this month.
"I would like to go much more quickly ... in order to boost growth as quickly as possible," he said.
"I know perfectly well that these reforms will not come without effort and tension."
Judges and courtroom officials have become the latest group to take to the streets - protesting plans to change France's "judicial map" - after strikes by transport and electricity workers, civil servants and students.
The unrest has dented the popularity of the "hyper-president", with a new poll showing that, for the first time, Mr Sarkozy's personal approval rating had dropped beneath the 50 per cent mark to 49 per cent.
What eez a Fwenchman to do wit all zees Moolims running around?
The more this man speaks the better I like him.
“The response to the riots isn’t yet more money on the backs of the taxpayers. The response to the riots is to arrest the rioters.”
Hmm so far he’s my favorite french president.
I think this is another man who “gets it”. We may be seeing the beginning of change in Europe.
Come on Sark, use the I-word or M-word.
Nothing like the smell of dead Muzlims in the morning.
Sounds like a great opportunity to test out some of the fine products made by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal.
Looks like the French have just about had it with the politically correct socialist experiment.
Well all of the disgruntled yoots were wearing scarfs on their face so how could you, Ah never mind!
Spoken like TRUE LIBERALS
I’m curious. What’s the French term translated here as “thugocracy”?
remember, jean-paul sartre said that non-whites had a right to kill whites.
oui, oui.
I’ll reserve judgement until I see what action he takes to punish these Muslim thugs.
What you said.
Sarkozy talks real big..... I don’t know if Sarkozy can legally do it but he should have sent in the French military to deal with these Muslim rioters
He threatened to do it when he was Interior minister...I believe.
Replace Pepper Spray with Bacon Spray and see if that helps quench the rioting yoots.
According to another Freeper, in the UK you cannot mention religion in the news, in any way that denigrates...
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