Press Interpreter

11/14/05 -- On Monday morning, at a meeting of ministers called expressly for the purpose, the government approved a draft law extending the state of emergency for three months starting November 21.* The President of the National Assembly swiftly announced that the draft law will be considered on Tuesday at 4:30 PM. According to an April 3, 1955, law, the government may declare a state of emergency by decree for a maximum of 12 days -- which was done on November 8. But the extension of the state of emergency must be confirmed by a law voted on by the Parliament.

According to a communique published at the end of the ministers' meeting, "the gravity and extension to numerous urban centers of this violence, aimed indiscriminately at people and goods, justifies this measure." Jean-Francois Cope, the government's spokesperson, reported that during the meeting Jacques Chirac announced that the measure would be "strictly temporary" and "will not apply except where strictly necessary and fully agreed to by the members of parliament." According to the head of state it is a "precautionary and protective measure."

"Declaring a Social Emergency"**

Mr. Cope set the stage on Europe 1,*** saying that "in order to limit these exceptional measures to what is strictly necessary, the draft leaves open the possibility of ending the state of emergency by decree before it expires," in three months. He had considered it "important that the prefects have the means to act during a period both limited and sufficiently long to make sure that the serious attacks on public order do not recur." The state of emergency notably permits prefects to institute curfews -- which have already been applied in 40 cities -- to carry out police searches without prior authorisation, and to prohibit public demonstrations and gatherings.

Reaction was swift. Julien Dray, spokesman for the Socialist Party indicated that his party did not see "why at this stage we should prolong" the state of emergency and curfew, emphasizing that "emergency law is not the main instrument of a return to calm." Mr. Dray indicated that the socialists "showed their extreme reservations." He observed that the state of emergency had been "little enforced."

The Communist Party also criticised the decision for taking place "when the heart of the solution is to declare a social emergency." In a communique, the party of Marie-George Buffet denounced the fact that "once more the only response to violence is force and attacks on liberty."

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[ The article was accompanied by a photo with the following caption: "Dominique de Villepin leaving the ministers' meeting, Monday, November 14, 2005." Go to photo: http://medias.lemonde.fr/mmpub/edt/ill/2005/11/14/h_9_ill_709842_villepin.jpg ]

*The law was adopted by the National Assembly Tuesday evening, November 15.

**In French politics a state of social emergency (l'urgence sociale) demands an immediate and massive response in the form of social welfare measures. In contrast, the "state of emergency" invoked by the French government responds to the violence not with social welfare measures but with increased police powers.

***A French radio station.

With AFP and Reuters

--Translated By Ramsi Woodcock

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