THE riots that have shaken France over the past fortnight are a sign of a “profound malaise” and an identity crisis in French society, President Chirac said last night.

In his first address to the nation since the disturbances began, he said on national television that they highlighted a “crisis of direction, of values and of identity”.

“We will respond by being firm, just and faithful to the values of France,” M Chirac said.

Yesterday, his Government decided to extend for three months a state of emergency that was imposed last week to enable local authorities to order curfews and special police measures to quell rioting.

The 72-year-old President was speaking after being widely criticised for taking a low profile during France’s biggest outbreak of urban violence since the 1960s.

His speech was an attempt to regain the initiative and demonstrate that he remains in charge despite a minor stroke this summer. M Chirac sought to restore battered national pride by telling his compatriots — including those who have been rioting — that they were lucky to be French.

“We should all be proud to belong to a nation that fights discrimination and devotes considerable means to that end,” he said. “It’s a good thing to belong to the French community.”

The President called for French justice to take a tough approach to the rioters, saying: “Those who attack people and goods must know that in the republic you don’t violate the law without being apprehended and punished.” He also reminded parents whose children committed offences that they could face prosecution.

But in a pitch for the centre-ground of French politics, Mr Chirac added: “I wish to tell the children from these difficult neighbourhoods, whatever their origins, that they are all sons and daughters of the republic.” He went on to make a tentative move to confront the taboo subject of race in French public life, calling for a better representation of ethnic minorities in business, politics and the media.

M Chirac said France should “recognise and assume the diversity of the nation”. His words represented a small step away from the hitherto sacrosanct French republican model that refuses to admit any cultural differences within society.

Although ruling out quotas, he called on firms to employ more people from “the suburbs” — a roundabout way of urging them to take on immigrants. The President said that he would also meet political leaders and media figures to deliver the same message.

Business leaders have warned of a drop in investment and tour operators have reported a 5 per cent fall in bookings since the riots began.

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