Government Responds to Disturbing Police Violence at Sainte-Soline Ecological Protest
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez addresses controversial police violence at Sainte-Soline protest, announces investigation amid serious injuries to protesters.
- • Disturbing footage reveals illegal use of tear gas and explosive grenades by gendarmes at Sainte-Soline protest.
- • Protesters claim 200 injuries including 40 serious and two in coma.
- • Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez refused to label actions as 'police violence' but acknowledged misconduct.
- • An administrative investigation into the police conduct was announced following the footage release.
- • Footage shows gendarmes’ unprofessional and mocking behavior, with the national gendarmerie previously holding evidence for over two years without action.
Key details
On November 6, 2025, France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez addressed the controversial police conduct during the March 25, 2023, Sainte-Soline ecological protest, sparked by the recent release of disturbing footage by Libération and Mediapart. The video evidence depicts gendarmes employing illegal tear gas and explosive grenades—actions generally prohibited—that resulted in serious injuries, including two individuals who fell into comas. Protesters report approximately 200 injuries, with about 40 being severe.
Nuñez refused to broadly categorize these events as "police violence," conceding only that certain actions were "non-regulatory" and inappropriate. He insisted that the security forces’ response was largely proportional considering the protesters’ extreme violence. Nonetheless, he announced an administrative investigation to examine the incidents and possible sanctions.
The footage reveals troubling gendarme behavior: unprofessional conduct, derogatory remarks toward protesters, and disturbing celebration of injuries inflicted. It also shows that such unlawful tactics were not isolated but ordered actions. Notably, the national gendarmerie held the footage for over two years without initiating disciplinary measures.
This response highlights the sensitive nature of government accountability concerning police violence. While Nuñez promises sanctions, his initial reluctance to acknowledge police actions as violent has drawn public scrutiny and criticism from human rights advocates. The administrative investigation will determine further legal or disciplinary steps.
As the government navigates the fallout, the incident has intensified debate on law enforcement’s role and limits in managing ecological and social protests in France.