Immolated student: "nothing can justify the violence" (government spokesman)

Paris (AFP)

The government on Wednesday condemned the acts of degradation that occurred after the immolation of a student in Lyon, saying through his spokesman Sibeth Ndiaye that "nothing" could "justify that violence can be committed despite the event tragic".

"We must refrain from any political instrumentalization" on this subject, added Ms. Ndiaye after the Council of Ministers, also noting that the executive had "taken the full measure of this tragedy" and that "the next day of this terrible act, (the Minister of Research) Frédérique Vidal went on the spot ".

President Emmanuel Macron lamented on Wednesday a "tragic" gesture and asked the government "the greatest vigilance and the best possible accompaniment" of the student who set himself on fire last week, the spokesman added. emphasizing "the empathy, the compassion expressed by the President of the Republic".

"The government has obviously tackled the subject of student precariousness and the support for the success of studies for all students," she insisted, recalling in particular the increase of 1.1% Scholarships based on social criteria which are intended for students, which represents an additional budgetary effort of 46 million euros for the year 2019-2020.

The immolation of a student and his message calling on the authorities on precariousness were Tuesday at the center of rallies that ended in incidents in Lyon, Lille and Paris.

"It is always very difficult to determine what are the motivations that preside over an act of despair of this nature, so I think that we must really take things very cautiously and refuse any political instrumentalization in a sense like in another, "warned Ms. Ndiaye.

Lyon 2 University, which was studying the young man who immolated himself on November 8, was again closed for the day Wednesday after blockades led by students protesting against precariousness.

Burned to 90%, the young man was still Tuesday between life and death at the Edouard Herriot Hospital in Lyon, according to union sources who had not received any news Wednesday.

© 2019 AFP