The Paris police chief issued an order to prohibit from Thursday 6:00 p.m. any demonstration near the Constitutional Council, which must render its decision on the disputed pension reform on Friday evening, we learned from a police source. The ban will be valid until Saturday 8:00 a.m., according to the decree posted online at the start of the afternoon.
The prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, issued this order at the request of Gérald Darmanin, according to the entourage of the Minister of the Interior. “There is a significant risk that undeclared gatherings will be held that day near the Constitutional Council, in particular with a view to putting pressure on its decision”, writes the prefect in the decree.
“In addition, there is a serious risk that determined, radical elements with a high violent potential will form wild processions in this sector, with the aim of attacking the forces of order again and committing damage. of street furniture, vehicles and shops,” he continues. The surroundings of the Constitutional Council, not far from which passed the trade union procession on Thursday afternoon, were symbolically blocked by garbage cans Thursday morning before being quickly cleared.
A large force of police and gendarmes was positioned in front of the Royal Palace, which houses the institution, during the demonstration which started shortly before 2:30 p.m. from the Place de l’Opéra to reach the Place de la Bastille. The decision of the Elders of rue de Montpensier is scheduled for Friday at the end of the day.