the National Assembly creates a commission of inquiry into violent groups

2023-05-11 06:30:58

The National Assembly approved on Wednesday evening January 10 the creation of a commission of inquiry requested by the presidential majority on the “small groups, perpetrators of violence during demonstrations” like those of Sainte-Soline or 1^is-May, under the protests of deputies La France insoumise (LFI), communists and ecologists.

This parliamentary commission of inquiry, approved by 204 votes against 47, intends to work on “the structuring, financing, means and methods of action of small groups who are perpetrators of violence” during demonstrations and rallies “Intervening between March 16 and May 3, 2023”.

March 16 is the day of the triggering by the government of 49.3 to pass the pension reform in the Assembly without a vote, sparking mobilizations and clashes. The chosen deadlines also aim to examine the clashes between gendarmes and opponents of megabasins, water reservoirs, on March 25 in Sainte-Soline in Deux-Sèvres. Also concerned: the mobilization of the 1^is– May against the pension reform, marked by violence, with 540 people arrested in France including 305 in Paris, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

“Mutilated” protesters

In a stormy atmosphere, LFI deputies, communists and environmentalists criticized the presidential majority for wanting “criminalize opposition” in this commission of inquiry and to make « diversion » face of the protest against the pension reform.

Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Noël Mamère, former EELV deputy: “This government has a political will to criminalize thousands of environmentalists”

In the eyes of LFI Marianne Maximi, the government bears “a heavy political responsibility for the violence”par “political deadlock” retirements. The left has called for a change in policing doctrine, insisting on protesters “mutilated”.

The macronist Florent Boudié, rapporteur, explained to aim in this commission of inquiry the “small groups” which come with “firework mortars, lead ball slingshots” or some « cocktails molotov »in order to “to attempt the life of the police”.

Socialist Roger Vicot condemned all “violence from wherever it comes, from the far right, from the far left” et “sometimes police”judging ” legit “ et “democratic” this commission of inquiry.

On the far right, RN Julien Odoul supported the creation of the commission, but criticizes the presidential camp for not clearly mentioning the “far left militias, antifas, black blocks, anarchists, extremist ecologists” Who “have plagued social movements for years”he believes.

Commissions of inquiry are made up of no more than thirty members, appointed proportionally from the political groups. Their work cannot exceed six months.

Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Sainte-Soline: return to a confrontation and its gray areas

The World with AFP