Car burning a hot issue for French politicians
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HUNDREDS of cars go up in flames in France each New Year's Eve, set alight by young revelers, a much lamented tradition that remained intact this year with 1,193 vehicles burned, according to Interior Minister Manuel Valls.
His announcement was the first time in three years such figures have been released. The conservative government of former President Nicolas Sarkozy decided to stop publishing them in a bid to reduce the crime and not play into the hands of car-torching youths trying to outdo each other.
France's current Socialist government decided otherwise, deeming total transparency the best method, and the rate of burned cars apparently remained steady.
On December 31, 2009, the last figures available, 1,147 vehicles were burned.
For some, the decision to tell the public how many cars have been burned is a mistake.
Bruno Beschizza, security spokesman in Sarkozy's UMP party, said publishing the numbers motivates youths to commit such crimes. Gang rivalries center on who can torch the most cars, he said, with claims made on social networks such as Facebook.
His announcement was the first time in three years such figures have been released. The conservative government of former President Nicolas Sarkozy decided to stop publishing them in a bid to reduce the crime and not play into the hands of car-torching youths trying to outdo each other.
France's current Socialist government decided otherwise, deeming total transparency the best method, and the rate of burned cars apparently remained steady.
On December 31, 2009, the last figures available, 1,147 vehicles were burned.
For some, the decision to tell the public how many cars have been burned is a mistake.
Bruno Beschizza, security spokesman in Sarkozy's UMP party, said publishing the numbers motivates youths to commit such crimes. Gang rivalries center on who can torch the most cars, he said, with claims made on social networks such as Facebook.
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