Abuse of police power has been a persistent topic of debate in France, and it has reverberated through the US campaign mood as well. The parliamentary elections were held on the 12th and 19th of June. Following a Champions League final marked by a late start, fan unrest, and incidents of crime, security forces again found themselves at the center of scrutiny after a tragic Paris incident on a recent Saturday: a 21-year-old woman died while riding with a driver who was killed by police fire as officers opened nine rounds to stop a vehicle that resisted a checkpoint. This was the fourth fatal incident under similar circumstances in a matter of months.
Since the yellow vests protests at the end of 2018, France has seen an intense crackdown on public order. One person died, dozens of demonstrators were injured in the eyes, and several people lost fingers, highlighting a rift within society. Suburban residents, social movement activists, and younger generations have tended to view the police with growing suspicion, while wealthier groups often appeared indifferent amid concerns about crime. Data from officers themselves has been a topic of frequent discussion.
Mélenchon accuses police of ‘killing’
This division fed a new clash between Emmanuel Macron’s center-right base and a united left front led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, long known for his contentious stance toward police and unions. Mélenchon, who leads the France Insoumise alliance with Podemos, signaled on a recent Tuesday that he intended to spark controversy by focusing on “disproportionate use of police violence” during the campaign debates. He later tweeted that the deaths represented unacceptable abuse of power, calling for accountability in the wake of the 21-year-old’s death and the driver’s fate—who allegedly faced serious injuries after the incident, with a passenger and others implicated in the events. He also asserted that police were killing, a claim that drew sharp criticism from rival politicians as the election campaign intensified.
In response, government figures and opposition leaders criticized Mélenchon’s rhetoric. A Prime Minister dismissed the comments as inflammatory, while far-right voices suggested Mélenchon sided with criminals. The exchange underscored a tense political moment as lawmakers weighed the balance between security measures and civil liberties.
Police “against the disproportionate use of violence”
Mélenchon clarified that he has never been anti-police; his stance centers on opposing excessive force. He described the need to halt the escalation in violence while warning against adopting U.S.-style policing dynamics. On a morning radio program with wide audiences, he outlined his aim to anchor the conversation around proportional responses by security forces. In a broader context, police actions during a weekend at the Stade de France and at a Paris train station prompted additional questions about crowd control and the use of tear gas to manage backup transport.
In recent months, several cases involved police discharges in response to disobedience. On the night of April 24, two teenagers were fatally shot as they attempted to flee a checkpoint, with one officer facing charges of manslaughter in a case that has drawn scrutiny. In the 21-year-old case, prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the three officers who fired, though no charges have yet been filed.
Earlier, amid a wave of jihadist attacks, the national parliament expanded the legal framework for firearms use by security personnel. Since then, the rate at which officers resort to firearms has increased, sparking a debate about proper boundaries and public trust. France has voiced mixed reactions to such incidents, criticizing lethal force in some quarters while defending the right of police to protect themselves. The topic will continue to influence public discourse and is likely to color voter considerations in the June elections.