Prime Minister Gabriel Attal met with a member of the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture (MJC) during a visit on the occasion of his hundred days in office at Matignon, in Viry-Châtillon, south of Paris, on April 18, 2024. Following a recent deadly brawl involving a minor over the weekend, Gabriel Attal is set to begin consultations with political groups on Monday, April 29, regarding his proposals to curb violence among some youth. The Prime Minister will first meet with Mathilde Panot, the head of the deputies of La France Insoumise (LFI), and Manuel Bompard, the coordinator of the “insubordinate” movement, at 5:30pm at Matignon. Discussions will focus on responses to prevention and management of juvenile delinquency.
Subsequent to the first meeting, Gabriel Attal will meet at 7pm with representatives from the majority, including François Patriat, the head of the Renaissance senators, Sylvain Maillard, the head of the Renaissance deputies, Laurent Marcangeli, the leader of the Horizons group in the Assembly, and Erwan Balanant for the MoDem group. These consultations are scheduled to be reviewed in four weeks and concluded in two months. They come in the wake of the death of a 15-year-old in Châteauroux due to a stabbing incident and recent violent acts among young people, such as the fatal beating of Shemseddine in Viry-Châtillon on April 4.
Last week, a series of measures were announced by Gabriel Attal in response to the incidents. The alleged perpetrator in Châteauroux, also 15 years old, has been arrested and will be brought before justice on Monday. Claims that he was of Afghan origin have led to criticisms of the government’s immigration policy by figures from the right and far-right. Some have called for harsher measures, such as prison sentences and deportation. The issue of youth violence has become a prominent topic in the lead-up to the European elections, with the Macronist majority trailing behind the National Rally in polls.
Prior to these consultations, Gabriel Attal had met with the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, and had lunch with mayors from cities affected by riots involving teenagers in the summer of 2023. Following his visit to Viry-Châtillon, he announced a series of measures to address the issue of youth violence, including sanctions for disruptive students when pursuing their academic qualifications. He also proposed changes to criminal sentencing for minors and the implementation of immediate appearance in court for youths over 16. Parental responsibility was also emphasized in his proposals.
In addition to these measures, Gabriel Attal visited an educational boarding school in Nice to highlight the prevention aspect of his project. The focus on prevention and early intervention in the lives of at-risk youth is seen as a key strategy in addressing the root causes of violence. The consultations with various political groups and stakeholders are aimed at developing a comprehensive approach to tackling youth violence and delinquency in France. The government’s response to recent incidents and its commitment to finding effective solutions will be crucial in shaping policies and programs to support young people and communities affected by violence.
