An eight-year-old boy has caused a stir in France after launching into a profanity-laden attack on Emmanuel Macron and the police during a live television interview at a protest in Paris.
Marcel had attended the demonstration with his father when a reporter asked why he was there. He replied: “I think Macron is an a**hole like all those sh*tty cops.”
When the reporter intervened and asked him not to swear on live television, the boy continued, saying he was protesting because the government refused to listen to students taking part in demonstrations.
The remarks prompted criticism from police representatives. Stanislas Gaudon, of the Alliance Police Union, told CNEWS that the incident reflected “all these words that are flourishing in French society” and their consequence of “disrespect for the institution and the police”.
Jean-Christophe Couvy, national secretary of the UN1TE Police Union, described the boy’s comments as a symbol of an “ACAB” generation – referring to the anti-police slogan “All cops are b*stards” – that was being groomed.
“What shocks me is that next to the child, his father is impassive,” he said. “He even has a small smile of satisfaction.”
Franceinfo’s management later expressed regret over the broadcast. The channel acknowledged that interviewing a young child during a live programme had been a mistake and said its editorial guidelines had been reviewed.
Protests continue across France
The exchange took place as thousands of people demonstrated across France over the rising cost of living and dissatisfaction with the government. Clashes broke out between police and some protesters in Paris, although turnout was lower than during the previous three weekends.
The interior ministry said 146,000 people took part nationwide on Saturday, including 46,000 in Paris. Unions put the total at 250,000, with 75,000 protesters in the capital.
Police used tear gas in Paris after some demonstrators threw projectiles and homemade fireworks at security forces. Officers said about 200 violent individuals attacked them while they were arresting a man accused of setting fire to a rubbish bin.
About 70,000 members of the security forces were deployed. The demonstrations followed a mass union protest on Thursday, which drew 575,000 people according to the authorities and 1.6 million according to unions.
Student and teacher groups have called a further strike on Tuesday, arguing that the government remains under pressure to increase education spending. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is due to meet unions and employer representatives to discuss wages and purchasing power.
The police response to the protests has faced criticism, with dozens of internal investigations launched into allegations of brutality against demonstrators. Businesses along the protest routes have also reported losing customers, while shops in Paris and other cities were barricaded or closed to guard against potential ransacking.
