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This week I prepared for my students a chronology of how France is dealing with the pandemic on the legal front.
This touches on France's colonial history, a deepening of class and gender based inequalities, and how French people are getting baguettes these days.
This touches on France's colonial history, a deepening of class and gender based inequalities, and how French people are getting baguettes these days.
March 5th: the government says a lockdown will not happen.
“Life will not stop in France” even if the level 3 of the pandemic is reached” says Sibeth NDiaye the spokesperson of the Government.
https://www.lci.fr/politique/sibeth-ndiaye-la-france-ne-va-pas-s-arreter-avec-le-stade-3-de-l-epidemie-de-coronavirus-2147153.html
“Life will not stop in France” even if the level 3 of the pandemic is reached” says Sibeth NDiaye the spokesperson of the Government.
https://www.lci.fr/politique/sibeth-ndiaye-la-france-ne-va-pas-s-arreter-avec-le-stade-3-de-l-epidemie-de-coronavirus-2147153.html
March 12: "schools and universities will not close" says the Ministry of Education Michel Blanquer
https://www.bfmtv.com/mediaplayer/video/virus-selon-jean-michel-blanquer-fermer-les-ecoles-n-est-pas-la-strategie-adoptee-1229653.html
https://www.bfmtv.com/mediaplayer/video/virus-selon-jean-michel-blanquer-fermer-les-ecoles-n-est-pas-la-strategie-adoptee-1229653.html
Also March 12: Emmanuel Macron announces measures to fight the pandemic, including the closing of schools and universities.
But he maintains the local elections taking place on March 15.
But he maintains the local elections taking place on March 15.
March 17: Following the announcement of this measure, France imposes a lockdown.
Hoards of Parisians flee the city to their second homes all over the country. Locals call it ‘an invasion.’ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/world/europe/rich-coronavirus-second-homes.html
Hoards of Parisians flee the city to their second homes all over the country. Locals call it ‘an invasion.’ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/world/europe/rich-coronavirus-second-homes.html
Also March 17: Agnès Buzyn-the ex-Health Minister-tells journalists that in January, she had already informed the Prime Minister&the President about the pandemic.
Several organizations and individuals have sued members of the Government for negligence.
https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/03/25/coronavirus-le-sommet-de-l-etat-redoute-de-devoir-rendre-des-comptes_6034430_823448.html
Several organizations and individuals have sued members of the Government for negligence.
https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/03/25/coronavirus-le-sommet-de-l-etat-redoute-de-devoir-rendre-des-comptes_6034430_823448.html
Also March 17: an oversight committee at the National Assembly, mostly made up of members of Emmanuel Macron’s party is put in place.
http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/15/missions-d-information/missions-d-information-de-la-conference-des-presidents/impact-gestion-et-consequences-dans-toutes-ses-dimensions-de-l-epidemie-de-coronavirus-covid-19/(block)/68849
http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/15/missions-d-information/missions-d-information-de-la-conference-des-presidents/impact-gestion-et-consequences-dans-toutes-ses-dimensions-de-l-epidemie-de-coronavirus-covid-19/(block)/68849
March 22nd: the Parliament votes a “state of sanitary emergency” giving the Prime Minister exceptional powers to limit individual freedoms and reform the economy.
The ‘state of sanitary emergency’ is a new legal concept in French law. It’s inspired by the law voted in 1955 in the context of the Algerian war of independence.
https://www.lemonde.fr/police-justice/article/2020/03/30/en-france-l-etat-d-urgence-bouscule-l-etat-de-droit_6034889_1653578.html
https://www.lemonde.fr/police-justice/article/2020/03/30/en-france-l-etat-d-urgence-bouscule-l-etat-de-droit_6034889_1653578.html
Leaving home is allowed only in limited cases: e.g. to go to work or to buy necessary goods. Brief walks around the block are also allowed.
A repeated violation of the law may result in a 6 month prison sentence and a 3750 EUR fine (approx. $4000) https://twitter.com/EPhilippePM/status/1242181485165187080
A repeated violation of the law may result in a 6 month prison sentence and a 3750 EUR fine (approx. $4000) https://twitter.com/EPhilippePM/status/1242181485165187080
Here is the form that people need to fill out and carry with them when they go out.
Btw baguette & wine are considered "necessary"
https://www.france24.com/en/20200326-armfuls-of-baguettes-french-adapt-bread-buying-habits-to-coronavirus-lockdown
https://www.france24.com/en/20200326-armfuls-of-baguettes-french-adapt-bread-buying-habits-to-coronavirus-lockdown
March 25th: Labour law is changed. Under certain conditions, the employer can impose periods of paid leave; workers can work 60hrs per week which is beyond the legal limit; companies can resort to ‘partial unemployment’ subsidised by the State.
Unions are worried that some of these measures will remain legal after the crisis.
According to researches Edward Lee-Six & Veronique Samson, the government is using the lockdown to push ahead labour deregulation. https://jacobinmag.com/2020/03/emmanuel-macron-covid-19-crisis-coronavirus
According to researches Edward Lee-Six & Veronique Samson, the government is using the lockdown to push ahead labour deregulation. https://jacobinmag.com/2020/03/emmanuel-macron-covid-19-crisis-coronavirus
March 25th: Criminal law also changed: custody can be extended automatically for several months.
The Conseil d’État -the supreme court in administrative matters- rejected the claims regarding the illegality of the law.
https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2020/04/04/coronavirus-le-conseil-d-etat-valide-la-prolongation-de-la-detention-provisoire-sans-juge_6035548_3224.html
The Conseil d’État -the supreme court in administrative matters- rejected the claims regarding the illegality of the law.
https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2020/04/04/coronavirus-le-conseil-d-etat-valide-la-prolongation-de-la-detention-provisoire-sans-juge_6035548_3224.html
Confinement rules worsened inequalities that exist in France.
In the overseas territories -the remains of the formal French empire- the crisis is made worse because of the under-equipment of local hospitals, poverty and health problems amongst the general population
In the overseas territories -the remains of the formal French empire- the crisis is made worse because of the under-equipment of local hospitals, poverty and health problems amongst the general population
France has also seen a spike in domestic violence.
The Gvt put in place a system for assisting victims: assisting points are set up in pharmacies & supermarkets, 22K hotel rooms have been booked & 1M has been given to organizations. https://twitter.com/MarleneSchiappa/status/1243939346476150785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1243939346476150785&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fcoronavirus-live-updates%2F2020%2F03%2F31%2F824720162%2Ffrance-announces-plan-to-aid-domestic-abuse-victims-during-coronavirus-crisis
The Gvt put in place a system for assisting victims: assisting points are set up in pharmacies & supermarkets, 22K hotel rooms have been booked & 1M has been given to organizations. https://twitter.com/MarleneSchiappa/status/1243939346476150785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1243939346476150785&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fcoronavirus-live-updates%2F2020%2F03%2F31%2F824720162%2Ffrance-announces-plan-to-aid-domestic-abuse-victims-during-coronavirus-crisis
https://twitter.com/MarleneSchiappa/status/1243939346476150785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1243939346476150785&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fcoronavirus-live-updates%2F2020%2F03%2F31%2F824720162%2Ffrance-announces-plan-to-aid-domestic-abuse-victims-during-coronavirus-crisis
Videos circulating on social media show police brutalities, especially in the outskirts of big cities. https://twitter.com/AbdessG/status/1240345847780511748
Several NGOs have urged the State to address claims of abusive and discriminatory practices.
https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2020/03/27/mesures-de-confinement-les-controles-de-police-ne-doivent-etre-ni-abusifs-ni
https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2020/03/27/mesures-de-confinement-les-controles-de-police-ne-doivent-etre-ni-abusifs-ni
Precarious low skilled workers (care workers, cashiers...) who are predominantly women are required to work, often without adequate protection.
Some workers managed to organize and pressured their employers to get protective equipment. https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/economie/190320/caissieres-de-supermarches-les-grandes-sacrifiees
Some workers managed to organize and pressured their employers to get protective equipment. https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/economie/190320/caissieres-de-supermarches-les-grandes-sacrifiees
In a few instance, workers have decided to leave the workplace to protest over the lack of protection. http://www.leparisien.fr/video/video-coronavirus-50-employes-de-carrefour-exercent-leur-droit-de-retrait-a-vitrolles-30-03-2020-8290923.php
FIN for now
I’ll try to keep this thread up to date and talk about new legal changes.
I’ll try to keep this thread up to date and talk about new legal changes.
