PARIS, November 15 France’s parliament was expected to approve a government plan on Tuesday to extend emergency powers for three months to quell unrest which President Jacques Chirac said pointed to a deep national malaise.

“We will respond (to the violence) by being firm, by being fair and by being faithful to the values of France,” Chirac said in a television and radio speech, his first direct address to the nation since the unrest began on October 27.

Chirac acknowledged the need for France to tackle discrimination but rejected so-called “positive discrimination” that would favour minorities for jobs.

“I want to say to the children of poor areas, whatever their origins, that they are the daughters and sons of the (French) republic,” he said. “We will build nothing lasting without fighting discrimination, which is a poison for society.”

In a fresh sign that violence is on the wane, police said 215 vehicles were destroyed overnight in the 19th straight night of trouble, against 284 the previous day. In only 7 of France’s 36,000 municipal districts were more than 5 cars destroyed.