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(Hardly any) French MPs back emergency powers reform

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
(Hardly any) French MPs back emergency powers reform
Photo: AFP

The lower house of the French parliament voted on Monday in favour of enshrining in the constitution the process of declaring a state of national emergency, although 411 MPs didn't bother turning up.

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The lower house of the French parliament voted on Monday in favour of enshrining in the constitution the process of declaring a
state of national emergency, one of a series of controversial amendments the government proposed after November's Paris attacks.

The measure - which gives the state increased security powers - was voted through by 103 to 26, although it met opposition from some leftwing lawmakers and some deputies from the right.

But despite the huge controversy around the rare change to the French constitution, some 411 MPs stayed away from the vote.

The reform has drawn criticism from rights groups and led to ex-minister Christiane Taubira quitting the cabinet.

The half empty chamber didn't go unnoticed.

"441 absent for such an important text, it's heartwarming," was the sarcastic reaction from Senator Nathalie Goulet.

One tweeter pointed out how many from each party were missing - almost three quarters in total.

Political experts put the huge absence down to a malaise among French politicians, especially those on the left, who have seen their party move away from its traditional base.

Other suggest those on the right stayed away because they did not want to vote for a Socialist government initiative.

The vote in favour is the first in a series of steps before the constitution is finally revised.

President Francois Hollande imposed a state of emergency in the wake of the jihadist attacks that killed 130 people in the capital on November 13th, giving police and security forces sweeping powers to raid houses and hold people under house arrest without judicial oversight.

His Socialist government now wants to include the state of emergency - created during the Algerian war in 1955 - into France's cherished constitution, citing what it sees as a persistent threat from jihadism.

The current three-month state of emergency expires on February 26th and is expected to be extended, giving the government time to adopt its constitutional reforms.

November's shootings and suicide bombings, which were claimed by the Islamic State group, caused a radical rethink of security measures in France.

The most controversial of the post-attack proposals would make it possible for dual nationals to be stripped of their French citizenship in terrorism cases, a plan that sparked the resignation of justice minister Christiane Taubira last month.

Under the proposed changes, parliament would need to give its approval for a state of emergency lasting more than 12 days, as is the case now.

The state of emergency could last for a maximum of four months, after which it would need to be renewed by parliament.

Including the measure in the constitution protects it from legal challenges, as has already been attempted by rights groups that argue it gives draconian powers to the security services and erodes citizens' rights.

The French Human Rights League, one of many bodies now questioning the efficacy of the harsher measures, said recently that only four legal procedures relating to terrorism had emerged from more than 2,500 police raids carried out under the current state of emergency since November.

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