Conservative French presidential candidate François Fillon wants to prosecute 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, arguing it would prevent the kind of unrest that has rocked the low-income suburbs of Paris following an alleged police rape.
With his campaign struggling under corruption allegations, Fillon sought to burnish his tough-on-security image Wednesday with proposals likely to please far-right voters. He complained that many minors were involved in the recent unrest, but said they are "virtually untouchable because the law protects them more than their victims."
He made the comments during a meeting with police and security officials in the town of Compiegne in northern France.
After officers were arrested for the alleged rape of a young black man in the Paris suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois, protesters torched cars and broke windows during several nights of demonstrations.
Fillon did not mention in detail the incident that prompted the disturbances in several suburbs around Paris.
Later, during a speech at a political rally, he said, "Everything started because of this young man whose arrest is being questioned ... Justice must sanction the police officers if they were at fault. But there is no justification for these riots"
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http://www.france24.com/en/20170216-france-presidential-candidate-fillon-calls-16-year-olds-tried-adults-suburbs
