“A neofascist demonstration authorized in the streets of Paris, this deserves an explanation, even resignation”. The missive is from Isabelle RoccaDeputy National Secretary of the Socialist Party, but reflects the sentiment of many political figures or intellectuals on the left, after Saturday’s demonstration in Paris. That day, a hundred people dressed in black and showing off Celtic crosses celebrated the 29th anniversary of the death, in 1994, of a far-right activist, Sébastien Deyzieu.
But for the prefecture, no fault was committed: “Insofar as this demonstration had not caused, in previous years, any overflow or disturbance to public order, the prefect of police was not entitled to take a prohibition order against him”, explains a press release sent to the press on Monday.
Freedom guaranteed by the Constitution
The right to demonstrate is a “constitutionally guaranteed freedom” explain the authorities, and a demonstration can only be prohibited if it is likely to disturb public order. The prefecture adds that the administrative judge has already overturned January ban on another far-right protest, celebrating “Geneviève, Patroness of Paris”, on the grounds that there had been no significant disturbances during the previous demonstrations declared by the organizing association. The fact that organizations and small groups of the identity movement are likely to participate is therefore not sufficient reason for the judge.
“The demonstration on Saturday May 6 was subject to appropriate supervision by the police, to avoid any risk of overflow or clashes. Any criminal act observed during this demonstration or that the subsequent use of the images would make it possible to identify will be the subject of a report to the judicial authority, ”specifies the prefecture.