Repression of the September 18 demonstrations: Bruno Retailleau, arsonist thwarted

Bruno Retailleau is not a little proud of the "Captain Delpal", one of the gendarmerie's multi-purpose intervention vehicles, better known as the "Centaur" . This Thursday morning, the outgoing Minister of the Interior held a press briefing to clarify the "security measures for the day of September 18" .

Or rather to justify the enormous resources committed for the day: 80,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilized throughout France , including 6,000 in Paris alone, drones, 26 armored vehicles and 10 water-launching vehicles. A massive repressive deployment, justified according to him to deal with "small groups that will be numerous, ultra-left, vandals, opportunistic offenders" who would number in the thousands, "8,000 or more individuals who could be dangerous."

And Bruno Retailleau warned: "We will be intractable, implacable." Two days earlier, he had communicated this same firm instruction to the prefects of France in a telegram that L'Humanité was able to consult, in which he ordered them to "detect, intercept and search individuals who could be suspected of violent behavior," and to let nothing go through in terms of blockades, even pacifist ones.

"Any attempt to block infrastructure essential to the life of the nation must be prevented in advance and, if necessary, systematically unblocked as quickly as possible. These instructions also apply to any attempts to block universities or secondary education establishments."

A system that was called into question a few hours later by Sophie Binet , the general secretary of the CGT. Speaking to France Info, the union representative denounced the initial effects of the Interior Minister's instructions: "Since this morning, there have been protesters who have been gassed and assaulted even though they are peaceful." She also shared her fears about the consequences that such a police system could have.

According to her, " on September 10 , there was no particular violence, and today there will be no violence apart from the organized violence because of the law and order strategy being deployed by the resigning minister. (...) The Minister of the Interior is adding fuel to the fire."

Environmentalist Marine Tondelier also expressed concern about the orders issued by Bruno Retailleau. "This afternoon, we're hearing about rioters in the streets, but there will be protesters first and foremost. The role of the police is to ensure that these demonstrations take place peacefully. That's the responsibility of the Minister of the Interior, not to set fire to things," she warned.

By late afternoon on Thursday, September 18, there had been 140 arrests, including 21 in Paris, eight minor injuries among security forces, and a few localized incidents. This was a far cry from Bruno Retailleau's apocalyptic predictions.