Bruno Retailleau, Jordan Bardella… the verbal escalation of several politicians

Dramatic events linked to drug trafficking took place this fall in France, in towns which did not have the reputation of being plagued by drug trafficking. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau does not hesitate to speak of “Mexicanization of the country”, and Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, of “daily barbarity”.

In a few days, the same dramatic events took place in several cities in France against a backdrop of drug trafficking. In Rennes, Valence or Poitiers, shootings in the middle of the street occurred in working-class neighborhoods, with the same deadly consequences. Teenagers seriously injured, a 15-year-old killed in Poitiers, another 19-year-old died on Saturday November 2 in Rennes after receiving stab wounds near a deal point, a five-year-old child was also injured by gunfire three days earlier in Rennes. Facts which led to the same verbal escalation from certain politicians. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, denounces “daily barbarity” who would have taken over the country. A Macronist MP, Karl Olive, wants to send the army into these neighborhoods. And the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau goes so far as to evoke the specter of a “Mexicanization of the country”that is to say the control of drug cartels over entire sections of our economy and even over the functioning of public authorities.

The objective of using such strong words is to alert public opinion, to make an impression of course. “Mexicanisation”it sounds a bit like “carrier” drawn by Nicolas Sarkozy almost twenty years ago to “get rid of the scum”. These kinds of expressions distort reality, France is still far from being in the situation of Mexico, but they aim to raise collective awareness. Beyond the magnifying glass effect created by a succession of tragic events in a few days, we must assess the considerable scale taken by drug trafficking in France in recent months and its new geography which could have serious political consequences.

Trafficking networks are now targeting rural areas and small and medium-sized towns. We have unfortunately become accustomed to the massacre suffered by Marseille where deaths linked to drug trafficking number in the dozens each year, we have seen for a while the situation deteriorate in the Paris suburbs or in the Grenoble metropolitan area. But seeing supposedly quiet towns like Valence or Poitiers affected in turn can cause a shock in public opinion which risks convincing itself that no territory would be spared anymore. Hence the announcement by Bruno Retailleau of a new plan to fight drug trafficking. There is an urgent need to act and reassure.

Beyond the spectacular operations, “punches” or “places nettes”appreciated by our leaders, this challenge requires above all transpartisan mobilization, as the mayors struggling with this scourge know, and lasting action to obtain results. The concern of this government is that it hardly has any time.