French attorney Antoine Savignat proposes national-level demonstration bans after recent riots, arguing for judicial oversight to balance freedom and security.
Proposed national demonstration ban
Antoine Savignat, a lawyer and former member of the LR party, suggested on October 18, 2026, that France should be able to prohibit demonstrations not only locally but also nationally, following the riots and chaos of the previous day.Criticism of current emergency measures
Savignat criticized the state of emergency as a violation of fundamental freedoms during an interview with Jacques Cardoze on Sud Radio. He argued that France is facing a failure and that a less extreme measure is needed to manage the current crisis.Limitations of local bans
Currently, France allows the prohibition of demonstrations, but only at the local level and on a case-by-case basis. Prefects and mayors can request such bans, but courts often overturn these decisions due to legal precedents that limit this power.Call for national-level control
Savignat claimed that the situation is no longer under control and that the ability to prohibit demonstrations should extend to the national level if a significant risk is identified. He emphasized that this would help manage the current crisis effectively.Balancing freedom and security
While Savignat acknowledged that banning demonstrations infringes on a fundamental freedom, he argued that this freedom has been undermined by the previous day's violence. He proposed a new legal framework that includes judicial oversight to ensure decisions are not arbitrary.Distinguishing from state of emergency
Savignat proposed that the new measure would differ from the state of emergency by maintaining judicial control, ensuring that the fundamental rights to express and claim are protected while addressing the current security concerns.
