The French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, has dismissed those previously reported claims by some of his own party colleagues that rap music has fuelled recent rioting in various cities in France. He told a French radio station that he wanted to avoid finger pointing about the origins of unrest in France, though he added that the courts should deal with any lyrics which they felt "overstepped the mark".
De Villepin was responding to those comments made last week by French MP Francois Grosdidier who said various French rappers and rock bands, and in particular rapper Monsieur R, had incited violence in their lyrics, and that their music had had a role to play in the riots: "When people hear this all day long and when these words swirl round in their heads, it is no surprise that they then see red as soon as they walk past policemen or simply people who are different from them." About 200 MPs signed Grosdidier's petitions calling on the justice ministry to prosecute seven groups over allegedly provocative lyrics.
However, de Villepin said this weekend: "I very much wish during this period - it is one of my primary responsibilities - to avoid any sort of confusion or finger-pointing. Is rap responsible for the crisis in the suburbs? My answer is no. When one writes a song, when one writes a book, when one expresses oneself, do we have a responsibility? Yes".