Europe

France to end state of emergency on July 26th, says Francois Hollande

‘We can’t extend the state of emergency indefinitely,’ president says on Bastille day

French president Francois Hollande kisses a child on the Champs Élysées after the Bastille Day parade in Paris. France has had a state of emergency since last November’s terrorist attacks in Paris. Photograph: Thibault Camus/AFP/Getty Images
French president Francois Hollande kisses a child on the Champs Élysées after the Bastille Day parade in Paris. France has had a state of emergency since last November’s terrorist attacks in Paris. Photograph: Thibault Camus/AFP/Getty Images
Thu Jul 14 2016 - 13:32

France will not extend a state of emergency put in place after the November 2015 militant Islamist attacks on Paris beyond July 26th, President Francois Hollande said on Thursday.

“We can’t extend the state of emergency indefinitely, it would make no sense. That would mean we’re no longer a republic with the rule of law applied in all circumstances,” Mr Hollande told journalists in a traditional interview on Bastille day.

France had twice extended the state of emergency with its extra powers of detention for police and other security measures, the last time until July 26th to cover the Euro 2016 soccer tournament and the end of the Tour de France cycling race.

Reuters