France's Constitutional Council censures ban of protests imposed by state of emergency

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-09 18:41:02|Editor: xuxin
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PARIS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- French Constitutional Council on Friday said it censured a ban of protests, a measure that authorities have imposed in a context of state of emergency.

The council considered, in a statement, that the prefects' measure to "prohibit the stay" in certain places of individuals "seeking to hinder the action of the public authorities" was too extensive.

"(It) has ruled that this measure does not ensure a balanced reconciliation between the constitutional objective of safeguarding public order and on the other hand, the freedom to come and go, and the right to lead normal ...life," it said.

France's highest constitutional body noted that "the latitude granted to the prefects is not organized," adding that "the law should be accompanied by more guarantees."

In 2016, a young man had been banned by police to stay in some streets of French capital while he participated in a protest against labor reform. He refereed the case to the Constitutional Council.

"It's a remarkable decision. In a democracy, we must be able to demonstrate and legally impede the action of the public authorities," his lawyer Raphael Kempf was quoted as saying by local media.

In the wake of the bloody wave of explosions and shootings which left 130 people dead on Nov. 13, France imposed state of emergency rules that empower police and prevent rallies to preserve security amid high terror alert.

Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron said the government was going to ask parliament for a three-month extension of the state of emergency, beyond its normal term in July 2017.

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