Faced with concerns, Manuel Valls defends the state of emergency

In an interview with Europe 1 radio station yesterday morning, the prime minister defended the state of emergency. Since the attacks, more than 2,000 searches have been carried out and more than 210 people arrested, he announced. According to Manuel Valls “one must not dismiss” the possibility, “evidently, in line with the threat”, of a prolongation of the state of emergency after 26 February. Parliament “will regulate its implementation”, he assured. Before a meeting of parliamentarians with the prime minister, André Chassaigne, leader of Left Front deputies, made it clear he wanted to “relay” to the government “the concerns of civic associations and trade unions”. For his part, Bernard Cazeneuve sent a memorandum to prefects to remind them that raids were to be carried out “in accordance with the law”.