French emergency, long colonial history

L’etat d’urgence It has a long and intertwined history with the history of colonial France. The original version of the law of April 3, 1955 states that a state of emergency can be declared in two cases: imminent danger arising from serious outrages on public order; Events that can be classified by the Ministry of Interior as public disasters in nature and severity.

First time an emergency It was proclaimed by General Charles de Gaulle in application of Article 16 of the Constitution and extended to all of Algeria after the revolution of August 20, 1955. On May 17, 1958, when the first telegraph government of Pierre Flemlin requested a declarationetat d’urgence After the formation of the General Security Government in Algiers, in open rebellion against the French executive. This state of emergency came to a halt thanks to de Gaulle who declared it again on April 22, 1961 in all the departments of the French capital, after what is known as the “coup of the generals”.

It was proclaimed again on April 22, 1961, to broaden its application against the same generals who, in opposition to the Gaullist policy in favor of Algerian independence, took control of the capital of the North African country. Therefore, the exceptional regime that was put in place to suppress the Algerian nationalists in 1955 was used against their opponents in 1960. The state of emergency was extended again until May 31, 1963, in application of the referendum law of April 13, 1962 to counter the threat of terrorist acts carried out by members of the Organization of American States , a French secret organization close to the far right, which has defended its presence in Algeria through acts of violence.

The editors recommend:

Police Violence Between Neoliberalism and Authoritarianism

yet another etat d’urgence It was launched in the territory of Nouvelle Caledonie, an island close to Australia, in conjunction with the referendum that would have allowed a choice between remaining in the French Republic or creating an independent state. A new state of emergency was declared on October 29, 1986 on the territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean, for just one day. However, on October 24, 1987, in French Polynesia after clashes between strikers and regime forces.

November 8, 2005 is a date that marks a symbolic turning point: Jacques Chirac declares a state of emergency in Ile-de-France and the surrounding urban areas. The reason is the riots that resulted from the killing of the young Zayd Bina and Bonia Traoré in Clichy Sauce Boua who wanted to flee, like Nael M, who was killed last June 27, during a police search. It is the suburban rebellion that is so often stirred up in these days of similar unrest. The last announcement of état d’urgence dates back to November 14, 2015 (and continues into the following year). It was motivated by the well-known terrorist acts at the Stade de France (a failed attack) and the shootings in Paris on the evening of November 13th.

What is this special system? In a variety of measures that provide the administrative authorities with exceptional means. In fact, it is a state of crisis that strengthens the powers of the civil authorities in matters of personal security, thus limiting public and individual liberties. It must therefore be an exceptional legal regime that allows the adoption of special measures, which have become obligatory in certain circumstances.
After the recent explosion of the uprising in the suburbs and then in the cities, some right-wing and far-right opposition parties called for a state of emergency to be declared. Firstly Why Republicans (LR). then National Assembly, by the Vice-President of the National Assembly, Sebastien Cheneau. Finally from Eric Zemmour, who fears a civil war.

For the time being, Macron has ordered extraordinary measures and a massive deployment of security forces, but he has avoided an announcementetat d’urgenceAlthough he announced yesterday morning “without taboo” procedures.