French President Emmanuel Macron has received numerous mayors whose communities have recently been hit by violent protests. Of the 500 invited mayors, around 240 accepted the invitation, the Élysée Palace said.

Macron promised “fundamental answers”. He said it’s not about repeating things practised for decades, broadcaster BFMTV reported. Rather, what is needed is an “answer at the level of what we have experienced”. He wanted to “start long-term work to understand the reasons for these events,” said those around him.

At the meeting, Macron wanted to offer help in repairing damaged city halls and other public facilities, in addition to moral support.

The nationwide massive police presence should be maintained because it acts as a deterrent, according to Macron. If this is not enough, the security forces should take an “offensive” approach.

At a meeting with police officers on Monday evening, Macron spoke out in favour of quick sanctions. “The families should be financially punished quickly for the first offence,” he said after a report in the newspaper “Le Parisien”.

Days of unrest in France, in which anger was also directed against town halls, were triggered by the death of the youth Nahel M. The 17-year-old was shot dead in the driver’s seat of a car by a police officer during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre last week.

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