PARIS — Emmanuel Macron is encountering significant challenges in relating to the French public regarding the recent surge in violence involving minors. This issue came to the forefront on Tuesday following a tragic incident in Nogent, where a 14-year-old student fatally stabbed a 31-year-old school employee. This marks the second such occurrence in just three months, intensifying concerns about youth violence.
Political implications of the stabbing
The timing of this incident is particularly troubling for Macron, as he had previously suggested in an interview that media portrayals of violent crime contribute to fear-mongering, thereby playing into the hands of the far-right. He argued that focusing on such narratives distracts from more pressing issues, like climate change, especially in light of the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. However, after the recent stabbing, many parents in France felt that his statements seemed disconnected from their growing fears about the safety of their children in educational environments.
“Public opinion already places security among its top concerns. Events like the Nogent knife attack serve as proof that these concerns are valid,” said Erwan Lestrohan, research director at polling institute Odoxa.
In a survey released immediately after the stabbing, 87 percent of participants indicated that such incidents signify a genuine increase in violence among minors, rather than isolated occurrences. Furthermore, only 21 percent expressed confidence in Macron’s ability to respond effectively to juvenile violence, a stark contrast to the 42 percent who favored his far-right competitor, Marine Le Pen.
Rising violence among minors
Reports suggest that particularly brutal acts involving minors are on the rise in France. François-Noël Buffet, a junior minister in the interior ministry, addressed lawmakers on Wednesday, reiterating that while overall youth delinquency rates have stabilized since 2016, the frequency of severe acts, including homicides, has escalated.
“Violence among minors has changed appearance; it is more radical and more widespread,” Buffet asserted.
Recent violent events include the January stabbing of a 14-year-old in Paris after he reportedly refused to hand over his phone, and an April incident where a student in Nantes fatally injured a 15-year-old classmate. The attack in Nogent occurred amidst police checks of student belongings, a security measure implemented in response to previous violent occurrences.
Macron condemned the Nogent stabbing as an act of “unspeakable violence,” but also criticized what he referred to as “a society of information where we move on from one crime report to the next.” He attributed the rise in violence to broken family structures and the influences of social media on youth, reiterating his commitment to enforce a ban on social media for children under 15, should European institutions fail to act swiftly.
Macron’s difficulty in effectively addressing domestic security issues is not new; while he navigates global matters like climate change with ease, he often struggles to articulate a comprehensive domestic security policy. This is exacerbated by a fragmented legislature and a tenuous relationship with his prime minister. His focus on long-term issues, such as climate change, at a time when public anxiety about violent crime is palpable, may give the impression of detachment.
As Lestrohan pointed out, “When it comes to crime and safety, perception trumps reality. A nationwide outcry triggers a call for an authoritative response.”