Updated date: 07/07/2023 10:07:12
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin declared that the riots had ended across the country. Speaking to the French Senate, Mr. Darmanin emphasized: "We are witnessing a return to calm throughout France." However, he also affirmed that the French Interior Ministry is still maintaining a high level of vigilance.
France increased police force on the streets to ensure security.
French authorities are counting the cost of the worst wave of urban unrest in nearly two decades and investigating the death of a man who was allegedly hit by a rubber bullet during riots in Marseille. It was the first reported fatality in a week of unrest that erupted after police shot dead a 17-year-old boy of North African origin for refusing to stop in traffic in a western suburb of Paris. The protests have prompted Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to cancel large-scale events across the country.
The French employers' union (MEDEF) - the largest labor federation in France - estimates that the wave of riots that broke out in the country since last week has caused more than $1 billion in damage. According to MEDEF, 200 businesses, 300 bank branches and 250 tobacco shops have been looted. The head of MEDEF estimates that the damage is likely to increase as hotel bookings are expected to drop this summer due to fears of riots.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire met with shop owners in Arpajon, south of Paris, to discuss the impact of the riots. He said French insurance companies had agreed to extend the deadline for filing claims for damages caused by the riots from five days to 30. In addition, the government will waive social and financial charges for shop owners who have been severely affected.
Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that he had met with the mayors of 220 cities affected by the riots. President Macron hopes to begin the process of clarifying the incident soon to find out the underlying reasons for these events. Addressing the outbreak of violence has become one of the biggest challenges for Mr. Macron since taking office in 2017.
According to NDO
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