French Anti-Riot Police Protest Sarkozy Reforms By Calling in Sick

French police are supposed to maintain order, enforce the law, and strictly follow instructions. They are also forbidden to strike or protest. Yet that is exactly what they did, forcing the French government to go back on planned reforms.

The symbolism is heavy, coming from a profession that was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, when he was Interior minister and a candidate in the 2007 presidential elections.

Last week, on Jan. 26, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux announced the project to close the Republican Security Companies (CRS), which include France’s riot control forces and general reserve of the French National Police. The anti-riot police forces are used to ensure security during protests and rallies.

French policemen are forbidden to strike or protest, yet strangely officers in the two targeted police forces, in Lyon and Marseille, instantly fell victim to a strange “virus” that kept every one of them in bed. In Marseille, some also started a hunger strike.

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