Paris (AFP)

Budget increases, payment of overtime, aggravated sanctions for police assaults: the Assembly on Thursday rejected a bill on the security of MP Eric Eric Ciotti, deemed "hasty" and sometimes "ideological" by the government preparing its own text.

This bill "orientation and programming for internal security" was examined in the framework of a day dedicated to the proposals of the group The Republicans ("parliamentary niche").

"This text intends (...) to make a commitment" so that those "who ensure the protection of our fellow citizens" have "the necessary means to face this essential mission", explained Eric Ciotti, rapporteur of the text.

The member for the Alpes-Maritimes has proposed a programming law providing for an additional allocation of 15 billion euros over six years for security.

"For fifty years, the resources have been divided by two," said the elected recalling a recent call of police unions evoking a "budget shortage".

The MP also proposed "the payment of 24 million overtime", "real operational sword of Damocles", garnered over time by the police.

He called for tougher penalties for aggression and insults against police, gendarmes and firefighters. This with punishments, expulsions and prohibitions of the territory for foreigners and the suppression of the excuse of minority for over 16 years.

Lastly, the text suggested reinforcing the prerogatives of municipal police by empowering agents to carry out identity checks.

"Your draft law is fishing by its unpreparedness.Some provisions are unconstitutional, others may appear as ideological and others have not shown their effect," said Secretary of State to the Minister of the Interior Laurent Nunez, speaking against the whole text.

He recalled the current draft of the White Paper and the Homeland Security Planning Act mentioned by the Prime Minister during his general policy statement.

All this requires "wide consultation, exchanges with the unions". "We have been leading them for weeks and moving forward on the issues of working time and overtime," he said.

"It also requires consulting the directorates, experts, elected officials (...) give the floor to women and men on the ground, to the citizens," added Mr. Nunez calling "to neglect nothing or rush."

"Your programming law will be adopted best in 2020 (...) while police and gendarmes are waiting for immediate action," said Mr Ciotti.

? 2019 AFP