After the astonishment and the emotion aroused by the assassination of history professor Samuel Paty on Friday, the time has come for tributes.
A national tribute will be organized on Wednesday and a small defense council is to be held at the Elysee Palace on Sunday.
Two days after the assassination of history professor Samuel Paty on Friday in the Yvelines, the tributes are organized.
A rally takes place Sunday afternoon in Paris and Emmanuel Macron will chair a restricted defense council at the Elysee at the end of the day.
Between emotion and concrete response, Emmanuel Macron adopts a response on two levels.
>> READ ALSO
- Who was Samuel Paty, the professor assassinated in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine?
Responding to the symbolic power of the assassination of a professor
The first challenge for the President of the Republic who believes in the place of school in the emancipation of the French: to respond to the symbolic power of the assassination of a teacher.
This is the meaning of the national tribute he wanted and which will take place on Wednesday.
This is why he called Samuel Paty's family on Saturday and it is also for this reason that he went very quickly on Friday evening in front of the college in Bois d'Aulne.
>> READ ALSO
- Decapitated professor: what we know
Attempting a form of national unity
This way of attempting a form of national unity could very quickly be shattered by accusations of angelism.
So, the Head of State does not want only words and emotion, but also concrete and firmness.
This is the meaning of the defense council which will be held on Sunday afternoon.
On the menu: more protection for schools, the fight against radical speeches on social networks and the fight against terrorism.
Salafist circles are in the sights of the executive.
This is also how the "they will not pass" wanted by Emmanuel Macron should be understood.