France: New law replaces state of emergency, gives more power to police

The bill was definitively adopted by parliament earlier this month.Macron said today that it will take effect Tuesday, just in time to replace the state of emergency that is set to expire on Novembe

Paris, October 30: A sweeping counterterrorism law has been formally signed by French President Emmanuel Macron that replaces a two-year-old state of emergency and is meant to give police more tools to fight violent extremism.

The bill was definitively adopted by parliament earlier this month.

Macron said today that it will take effect Tuesday, just in time to replace the state of emergency that is set to expire on November 1.

It gives law enforcement greater authority to conduct searches, to close religious facilities and to restrict the movements of people suspected of extremist ties.

After the Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people, the state of emergency was first imposed in November 2015. It has been extended six times since then.

PTI