government cracks down on controversy

A demonstration by violent far-right groups took place in the heart of Paris on Saturday May 6. It had been authorized by the police headquarters, enough to fuel criticism while other gatherings linked to pension reform have been banned. Tuesday, May 9, at the National Assembly, Gérald Darmanin tried to defuse the controversy. “I gave instructions to the prefects”, when “any ultra-right or far-right activist or any association or collective, in Paris as everywhere on the territory, will file (statements of) demonstrations (similar to that of Saturday in Paris)“, that they take “prohibition orders”informed the Minister of the Interior

An open investigation

“We will let the courts judge whether case law will allow these demonstrations to be held”, said Gérald Darmanin. The left is skeptical. “This is contradictory to the signals sent in recent weeks, which aimed to demonize protesters with saucepans”, considers Arthur Delaporte, deputy of the Socialist Party. Masked during their march, many participants in the rally incur prosecution. The prefecture has opened an investigation.