William Molinié // Photo credits: Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
A week before the first round of early legislative elections, Emmanuel Macron wants to maintain control and is waving the red rag of civil war. The strategy of fear after that of chaos. But on the side of the intelligence services, is this risk really real?
Less than a week before the first round of the legislative elections, Emmanuel Macron is increasing contacts with voters. After his letter to the French published in the regional press, the President of the Republic spoke again. In an interview, the head of state worries about a victory for the extremes, which could lead to “civil war”. On the intelligence side, the term civil war is absolutely not used. However, demonstrations could degenerate on the evening of the first and second rounds. This scenario seems to have been confirmed today.
The threat is still very strong
The register mentioned is that of violence on the public highway, possibly the work of very politicized small groups, ultra-right or ultra-left, which would be led, depending on the results of the polls, to confront each other in the street or to degrade people. state symbols. The risk of Islamist terrorism is also not excluded. The threat is still very strong, especially a few weeks before the Olympic Games.
The police force around the elections will be strengthened. Several meetings in Beauvau are being held this Tuesday and Wednesday. In question is the police capacity to absorb public demonstrations a few weeks before the Olympics. Many mobile force units are still deployed in New Caledonia. Around thirty squadrons of mobile gendarmes are still on site, as are three quarters of the CRS 8 personnel, specialists in urban violence. But for now, according to a police source, there is no question of bringing them back, given the still very tense situation there.