MOSCOW (Sputnik) — French Prime Minister Manuel Valls stated on Friday that he would do everything in his power to defend the nation against terrorism, discrimination and hate crimes as he unveiled new regional capitals in ongoing territorial reform.
"We must become a government that protects against the risk of terrorism and delinquency. But also against inequality, discrimination, tensions and hatred," iTele cited Valls as saying on the heels of the last Cabinet meeting before the body went on a summer break.
Valls said that regional budgets for security, employment and youth issues will be a priority, but added it takes "stability and visibility."
France has been on a security alert since beginning earlier this year following deadly Islamist shootings at a center-city magazine office and in a market in the Paris suburbs, as well as a failed attack in June at a gas factory near the city of Lyon.