Prohibition of demonstrations in the most affected neighbourhoods, strengthening of means, tightening of sanctions … Here are the announcements of Edouard Philippe this Monday 18th March
After the destruction of the Champs-Elysees on Saturday, March 16, 2019 on the sidelines of Act 18 of the Yellow Vests movement , Prime Minister Edouard Philippe expressed this Monday 18th March to announce a strengthening of security measures surrounding the demonstrations. This took place at the end of a crisis meeting at the Elysee convened by Emmanuel Macron.
“The events that occurred Saturday on the Champs Elysees are intolerable and the President of the Republic asked the government to provide an answer to the height of the stakes,” said in the preamble Edouard Philippe, who must also speak at 8pm on France 2 this Monday.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the policing strategy implemented since the beginning of the crisis, in early December, “has not been properly executed and the conduct of operations has been dysfunctional”.
“Saturday, it was not protesters but rioters, whose only intention was to loot, destroy, burn, injure. These are criminal acts for which the answer must be strong.”
EN DIRECT | Déclaration du Premier ministre @EPhilippePM suite aux violences de ce week-end à Paris. https://t.co/GmRhkoJTxl
— Gouvernement (@gouvernementFR) March 18, 2019
Prohibited demonstrations in Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse
While displaying the concern to preserve the right to demonstrate, the head of the government indicated wanting to “reinforce the firmness of our doctrine of maintenance of the order”, in particular “in case of presence of elements ultra”.
“We will prohibit whenever necessary the manifestations of yellow vests in the most affected neighbourhoods, the Champs-Elysees in Paris, the place Pey-Berland in Bordeaux and the Capitol Square in Toulouse.”
Thus, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo will be received Tuesday by Edouard Philippe, while the Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner will receive the mayor of Toulouse Jean-Luc Moudenc . Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire on Monday received representatives of sectors affected by the violence. 27 shops were looted and 124 degraded Saturday in Paris, according to Edouard Philippe.
Strengthening means, tightening sanctions
The Prime Minister also announced that the maintenance of order would be “reorganized” with a “greater autonomy of the forces on the ground” and “more mobility of the units”.
The police will also use new means such as drones, products, and video surveillance.
“We are determined to use all available legal means,” said Philippe. Thus, the controls around the demonstrations will be reinforced, the most violent demonstrators banned from access and the masked individuals placed in police custody.
“The amount of the contravention for participation in a prohibited event will increase very significantly.”
This fine could reach 135 euros , against 38 euros currently.
A new police chief in Paris
Finally, taking note of the “dysfunctions” that aggravated the excesses last Saturday at the Champs-Elysees, the executive decided to oust the current Paris Prefect Michel Delpuech .
In his place, Emmanuel Macron will name this Wednesday Didier Lallement , current prefect of the region of New Aquitaine, previously Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior from 2012 to 2014.
Christophe Castaner and his counterpart for the Economy Bruno Le Maire will have to explain Tuesday before the commissions of the Laws and Economic Affairs of the Senate on this violence and their economic consequences.
