It is important to understand that those people in the suburbs who are protesting are not refugees, they are not migrants. They are people who have been living in France for generations, Drieu Godefridi, author & political analyst, told RT.
The French government has passed a law expanding police power to open fire on demonstrators, as protests against police brutality in the country continue to rage.
RT: Police have been demanding more resources and powers for some time. With the current wave of unrest, is this new law a good move?
Drieu Godefridi: It is obviously a good move, but we must understand that the rules of engagement are so complicated that most of the time the police force prefer not to do anything, because they are afraid to be jailed themselves. The rules are changing all the time, and way too complicated. That is the problem they have now in France with the police.
RT: There have been numerous protests against police brutality. One mistake by security forces and the situation could escalate further. Will this law ease the protests or make things worse?
DG: The thing is you have the rules of engagement. And then the police force is receiving direct orders from the prefects, for instance. Now the order is very clear: make peace – not to make any kind of wave. So this is not a juridical situation they now have in France. It is law and order – a general situation that they have.
RT: How unstable is this situation in France?
DG: Obviously, the situation in France is now very unstable. You have to understand that these ‘banlieue,’ [in France, the suburb of a large city] as we say it in French, these setups are pretty much out of control. So let’s hope that the next government, the next president of France, is going to radically change the course of the policy of this country. It is important also to understand that those people in the suburbs we’re talking about are not refugees, they are migrants. They have been there for generations. There is a huge problem in France with the integration of those populations, but they are not refugees.
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