For ARD viewers, he was the German in France for decades: former “Tagesthemen” presenter Ulrich Wickert has close personal and professional ties to the neighboring country.
The now 83-year-old spoke to “Bild” about the demonstrations and subsequent riots and looting in several large cities. “I am horrified by the violent riots and what was destroyed there,” said the former head of the Paris ARD studio (from 1984, then moderation of “Tagesthemen” from 1991).
But experience also shows, Wickert continues: "Unfortunately, such escalations during demonstrations are nothing new in France. When I was in Paris as a correspondent in the 1980s, I experienced violent protests. Back then, the police also fired into the crowd, and a boy's hand was shot off. We also saw demonstrations escalate again and again later, for example in the yellow vest protests."
According to the report, Wickert, who is married to media manager Julia Jäkel for the third time and is the father of three children, now also lives in the south of France. The son of a German diplomat (Erwin Wickert) spent several years in France as a child.
Already 149 convictions after the nationwide protests
On Saturday, demonstrators set fire to cars, stormed public buildings and looted shops in several French cities. The protests were initially directed against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Authorities blamed the violence on left-wing extremist groups and looters who took advantage of the situation.
At least 2,400 people were arrested. According to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, 149 people across the country had been sentenced to prison by Tuesday afternoon. According to the Ministry of Justice, more than 800 detainees were brought before public prosecutors. Most were either brought to trial immediately or must appear at a later date.
Ulrich Wickert explained to “Bild” that the original education protests had to be distinguished from the later riots. "The problem for me is those who are called 'les casseurs' in France - the conscious rioters. These are not demonstrators, but people who simply enjoy rioting and destroying."
His assessment is therefore the following: "When town halls are set on fire or shops are looted, it has nothing to do with demands for better schools or higher incomes. For me, these are not people with political ambitions. I believe that they are dissatisfied with their own lives, their living conditions and their view of the future. They live out of a moment of hatred and violence."
Wickert warns of a President Le Pen
The “Bild” reporters also asked the journalist to assess the current political situation. He valued French President Emmanuel Macron “incredibly as a person,” said Wickert. Macron is “a very educated and likeable person, but unfortunately a bad politician.”
The President dissolved parliament “without necessity” and thereby created a situation “in which government can hardly be governed.” “This political vacuum certainly contributed to people getting the feeling that we are no longer governed,” he concluded.
His view of the future is rather bleak: In the coming presidential election, he expects a duel between the left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the right-wing nationalist politician Marine Le Pen. In a possible runoff election between the two, he then sees Le Pen ahead. Wickert's forecast: "A President Marine Le Pen would not only be a big problem for German-French relations, but for the whole of Europe."
New protests have been announced for Saturday. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wants to counter this with a large contingent of security forces. After the serious riots in recent days, the police operation will be “massive,” he said in the National Assembly.
