Police and gendarmes "deserve the support of the public authorities and the recognition of the Nation". During his speech on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron responded to the anger of the police. Accused of racism and violence, they have been demonstrating for several days, in particular by throwing their handcuffs, to express their anger. If the police are happy "to have heard the support of the Head of State", for the assistant general secretary of the Alliance union, Olivier Hourcau, "this is not what will calm [the] troops today" .
Actions rather than words
"Beyond words, actions are needed," said the unionist at the microphone of Europe 1. "Today, the police must absolutely feel supported by the government, but also by public opinion. there’s anti-cop hatred like there’s never been in decades, "he said. A feeling that shows itself in broad daylight, "with impunity", [...], and it must disappear. "The Deputy Secretary General therefore requests" unwavering support and above all firm sanctions against those who put the national police, the gendarmes and the firemen ".
>> READ ALSO - Schools, taxes, fight against racism… What you should remember from Emmanuel Macron's speech
Emmanuel Macron "must keep his promises"
That the actions follow the words is also what Christophe Rouget, the general secretary of the SCSI union, who has a majority of officers, is waiting for. "We expect that in this phase of reconstruction of the country, Emmanuel Macron will keep his campaign promises on the creation of a police academy, on the increase in continuous training or the generalization of pedestrian cameras. We are waiting for this government, or the next one, changes gear on security, and advances towards a police closer to our fellow citizens "he reacted just after the presidential speech on the microphone of Europe 1.
Christophe Rouget recognizes, however, the importance of the words spoken by Emmanuel Macron, who "recalled the dangerousness of the profession and the need for a republican order". But a sign that this is not enough, the police demonstrated and threw their handcuffs on the Parisian esplanade of the Trocadéro at the end of the evening, Sunday.