France invokes emergency law in response to riots
{{date|November  9, 2005}}
[[Image:Villepin ABr17112.jpeg|thumb|right|Dominique de Villepin]]
The French government used a 1955 law to impose a '''state of emergency''' across [[w:France|France]] in an effort to quell the rioting that has wracked the country for the last 12 days.  French Prime Minster [[w:Dominique de Villepin|Dominique de Villepin]] today declared, "The republic is at an hour of truth." 

Curfews designed to restrict the movement of those that might engage in violence and rioting allow the government to imprison individuals for up to two months. The northern city of [[w:Amiens|Amiens]] was one of the first to impose a curfew; unaccompanied youth in that city will be unable to walk the streets between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

The 1955 law invoked by the cabinet Tuesday morning will allow local officials throughout the country to impose curfews. In French terminology, the government invoked the law through a presidential ''décret'' (decree), which corresponds to an executive order in American terminology. The law originates from the [[w:Algerian War|Algerian War]] and has never been used in [[w:Metropolitan France|Metropolitan France]] until now. Villepin said that more than 9,500 police have been called up to help bring the riots under control.

[[Image:Strasbourg torched car.jpg|thumb|left|A car burns in [[w:Strasbourg|Strasbourg]], [[w:France|France]]. Photo credit: François Schnell. (CC-BY 2.0)]]
Article 11 of the law permits [[w:freedom of speech|censorship]] of all types of media (including [[w:theatre|theatre]] performances), if specifically authorized by a decree. The French government has so far not elected to use this possibility.

In the last 12 days more than 5,000 cars have been set ablaze, and at least 1,500 have been arrested in what is the worst public violence in France since 1968.
{{Wikipediapar|2005 civil unrest in France}}

==Related stories==
*{{wikinews|title=First casualty of French riots reported|date=November 7, 2005}}
*{{wikinews|title=French riots continue into second week|date=November 3, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/texteconsolide/PAEAX.htm
|title=Loi n°55-385 du 3 avril 1955 - Loi instituant un état d'urgence et en déclarant l'application en Algérie. - version consolidée au 16 juin 2000
|author=French Republic
|pub=Journal Officiel de la République Française
|date=June 16, 2000}}

*{{source|url=http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=INTX0500287D
|title=Décret n°2005-1386 du 8 novembre 2005 portant application de la loi n° 55-385 du 3 avril 1955
|author=President of France
|pub=Journal Officiel de la République Française
|date=November 9, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-11-08T201425Z_01_HO756911_RTRUKOC_0_UK-FRANCE-RIOTS1.xml
|title=France takes emergency steps to try to end unrest
|author=Timothy Heritage
|pub=Reuters
|date=November 8, 2005}}
<!-- Hint: If you are citing BBC News, leave the author blank and put "BBC News" in the "pub" parameter. -->

*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/11/08/france.riots/index.html
|title= PM: France 'at an hour of truth'
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=November 8, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.taz.de/pt/2005/11/09/a0082.nf/text
|title= Mit geballter Macht
|author=Rudolf Bamer
|pub=taz
|date=November 8, 2005}}

{{Publish}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Dominique de Villepin]]
[[Category:Arson]]

[[es:Francia autoriza aplicar el toque de queda]]
Dominique de Villepin
The French government used a 1955 law to impose a 'state of emergency' across France in an effort to quell the rioting that has wracked the country for the last 12 days.  French Prime Minster Dominique de Villepin today declared, "The republic is at an hour of truth." 

Curfews designed to restrict the movement of those that might engage in violence and rioting allow the government to imprison individuals for up to two months. The northern city of Amiens was one of the first to impose a curfew; unaccompanied youth in that city will be unable to walk the streets between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

The 1955 law invoked by the cabinet Tuesday morning will allow local officials throughout the country to impose curfews. In French terminology, the government invoked the law through a presidential décret (decree), which corresponds to an executive order in American terminology. The law originates from the Algerian War and has never been used in Metropolitan France until now. Villepin said that more than 9,500 police have been called up to help bring the riots under control.

Strasbourg, France. Photo credit: François Schnell. (CC-BY 2.0)
Article 11 of the law permits censorship of all types of media (including theatre performances), if specifically authorized by a decree. The French government has so far not elected to use this possibility.

In the last 12 days more than 5,000 cars have been set ablaze, and at least 1,500 have been arrested in what is the worst public violence in France since 1968.


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France Europe Politics and conflicts Crime and law Dominique de Villepin Arson