Portrait of François Hollande
Politician · policy
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François Hollande on Terrorism

Staunch defender of values (strong)

TL;DR

François Hollande viewed terrorism as a vile act of war requiring a determined, united, and comprehensive state response within the rule of law.

Key Points

  • He addressed Parliament on November 16, 2015, declaring France was at war against jihadist terrorism, specifically Daesh.

  • Following the 2015 attacks, he pushed for a constitutional revision to deal with the state of war without compromising public freedoms under the rule of law.

  • He took the decision to deploy the Army in Mali to fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel region during his presidency.

Summary

François Hollande framed terrorism, particularly the jihadist variety, as a direct act of war against France, its values, and its way of life following the 2015 attacks. He asserted that France must respond with cool determination, marshalling the full strength of the State to defend its people while affirming that the Republic would not be intimidated or disfigured by these cowards. This required a robust, long-term strategy that acknowledged the international dimension of the threat, emphasizing the need for a broad coalition to destroy organizations like Daesh.

His approach integrated immediate security measures, such as a prolonged state of emergency and enhanced police powers, with long-term constitutional and legislative reforms. He advocated for constitutional changes to deal with the war-like context without suspending public authorities or resorting to a state of siege, and sought to strengthen legal tools like stripping nationality from terrorists holding dual citizenship. Furthermore, he committed to substantially increasing resources for security forces, judicial services, and border control to combat the continuing threat both domestically and abroad, for instance by engaging the army in Mali.

Key Quotes

All countries, wherever they are in the world, are vulnerable to terrorism. Many of them have already been gravely affected; many fear being hurt. Every country needs to prepare.

Frequently Asked Questions

François Hollande stated that the 2015 Paris attacks were acts of war committed by a jihadist army, Daesh, against France and its values. He stressed that these acts demanded a response of cool determination from the nation. According to his November 2015 speech, these attacks strengthened his resolve to destroy the terrorist organization.

François Hollande sought a comprehensive response that included extending the state of emergency and proposing legislative changes to strengthen surveillance and police powers. He also considered constitutional revision to adequately frame exceptional anti-terrorism measures within the rule of law. The New York Times noted his proposal concerning the deprivation of nationality for convicted terrorists holding dual citizenship. [cite:2, cite:4]

Yes, François Hollande clearly framed terrorism as a threat that concerned the entire international community, not just France. He noted that every country was vulnerable and needed to prepare, stating that the enemy's actions in Paris were part of a pattern hitting many nations. He used his platform at the World Economic Forum to address this global concern.