Saturday, the Council of State, seized by several organizations including the League for Human Rights (LDH), lifted the ban on gatherings of more than ten people, decided by the executive in the framework of the State health emergency. At the microphone of Europe 1, the president of the LDH, Malik Salemkour, comments on this decision and is delighted. 

TESTIMONY

The Council of State lifted on Saturday the ban on the assembling of more than ten people, imposed within the framework of the State of medical emergency, restoring the freedom to demonstrate. Referred by a dozen organizations, the judge of summary proceedings of the highest administrative court in France estimated that the ban on demonstrations "is not justified by the current health situation when the 'barrier measures' can be respected". 

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"This absolute ban on demonstrations no longer had any legal meaning"

Among the complainants, trade unions, but also associations including the League for Human Rights (LDH). At the microphone of Europe 1, its president Malik Salemkour welcomes the position taken by the Council of State. "Even during a state of emergency, the rule of law must respect the balance of powers and fundamental freedoms," he explains. 

The judge of the summary proceedings of the Council of State suspends the general and absolute prohibition to demonstrate on the public highway >> https://t.co/CXyJB39yROpic.twitter.com/M3miPCmRix

- Council of State (@Conseil_Etat) June 13, 2020

For him, the Council of State recalled the "absurd situation in which France was" since May 31 and the publication of the decree prohibiting gatherings of more than ten people, since the deconfinement was effective "in public transport and at Puy du Fou ". "This absolute ban on demonstrations no longer has any legal meaning," continues Malik Salemkour, happy that the judge in summary proceedings gave his opinion before Emmanuel Macron spoke on Sunday evening. For the first time since the start of deconfinement, the Head of State will speak on the health crisis. 

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"Democracy was still a bit stifled"

"We are finally going to deconstruct democracy", rejoices the president of the LDH. "She was still a little bit stifled, and in particular in this possibility of manifesting and expressing her concerns in the face of a social situation," explains Malik Salemkour. "But also in the face of police violence and racism which are today to a point which deserves to be taken into account by the executive power", he concludes, while the decision of the Council of State was rendered a few hours after the start of the demonstration in memory of Adama Traoré place de la République in Paris, in which at least several tens of thousands of people participated.