Macron Left Brussels EU Meeting as Riots Spread in France, Belgium

July 1, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—Serious and violent riots have spread across many cities in France and are being fought by tens of thousands of national police in APCs, as widespread unrest mainly among immigrants from Africa has erupted and lasted for four days after the killing of one Algerian youth by police in Nanterre June 27. Nearly 4,000 fires were set “on public roads” alone on Friday night, June 30, and 45,000 police were being deployed, according to the government.

President Macron was compelled on June 30 to leave an EU summit in Brussels on the subject of—what other subject is there for the EU?—Ukraine’s integration with NATO, arms shipments, etc. Then on July 1 he cancelled another 3-day visit, to Germany, as the question of whether to announce a national state of emergency in France became urgent. French police unions, according to the London Telegraph, were threatening to abandon the government without such an emergency. “Today the police are in combat because we are at war. Tomorrow we will enter resistance and the government should be aware of this,” a union statement reportedly said.

Macron’s presidency has been marked by mass economic protests; huge demonstrations against pension reform “passed’ unconstitutionally; a 40% increase in military spending from 2022 to 2023; and now the largest wave of riots of the poorest residents of France. But ironically, Macron has taken the lead in lecturing about Putin’s “weakness” since June 24.

As Macron left the Brussels summit, the rioting spread into Brussels and other cities in Belgium.