As often, the ban fell at the last minute. Late Friday evening, an order from the Paris police headquarters banned the static demonstration of the Seine-Saint-Denis inter-union, which was to be held this Saturday from 5 p.m. near the Stade de France to protest against the pension reform.
The action was symbolic: tonight, Emmanuel Macron will attend the final of the Coupe de France between Nantes and Toulouse. The demonstrators had planned to distribute 30,000 red cards and 10,000 whistles to the supporters, to use in the 49th minute, in protest against the use of 49.3.
Invited this Saturday on RMC, the prefect of police of Paris Laurent Nuñez justified his decision. “My job is to prevent disturbances to public order. This gathering was likely to generate for three reasons: first, it is taking place in a place where there will be a huge flow of spectators, 80,000 people. Do not add additional flows. »
Longer excavations
In general, the police headquarters “prohibits protest movements during an event of this magnitude”, assures Laurent Nuñez. Second argument: the distribution of whistles. “However, their introduction into the stadium is prohibited by the FFF regulations”, he recalls, so as not to disturb the arbitration. “This means that the excavations will be longer, generate a crowd of people, risks of disturbing public order. »
Finally, Laurent Nuñez affirms that the national association of supporters contacted him, “because it is surprised that this protest demonstration is tolerated”. The inter-union, she filed a summary freedom with the administrative court, castigating “a decision as ridiculous as it is serious”. Friday evening, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, deplored a decision which “undermines public freedoms”.
Words that annoyed the prefect of police. “No, it aims to prevent disturbances to public order,” retorts Laurent Nuñez. Madame Binet would not be happy if I authorized other demonstrations on the route of the inter-union this Monday, May 1st. There is no infringement of freedom of expression, words have meaning. »
“If I hadn’t made this decision, I would have been called irresponsible”
In this context of high tension, the Coupe de France trophy will exceptionally be presented in the presidential gallery, and not on the lawn. Especially since the outpouring of joy from the people of Nantes, at the end of the semi-final against Lyon, left their mark: invasion of the field, “damage”, clashes between Nantes and Lyon supporters.
“If the same phenomenon occurs during the final, can you imagine the President of the Republic putting the trophy back on the lawn, with an invasion of the field? “, Asks the prefect, who therefore asked that the match take place “grids raised” (with spades, which sparked a controversy) and that the cup be put back in the stands. “If I hadn’t made this decision, I would have been called irresponsible. »
The gates “can be lowered in the event of major pressure and risk of crushing the crowd”, assures Laurent Nuñez.
Nantes-Toulouse in the final, “it’s a risky match”. According to Laurent Nuñez, he is ranked 4 out of 5 on the scale of the DNLH (National Division for the Fight against Hooliganism). “We will have a lot of work to contain the Nantes and Toulouse ultras. “And even if it is in theory forbidden to express a political opinion inside the stadium, “we expect a demonstration in the 49th minute”, confirms the prefect.
