Tours protest, USA News (Tours, France): The prefecture of Indre-et-Loire released its final figures on Sunday following the October 31 mobilization, marking the third act of protests against the high cost of living that drew up to 12,000 people at its peak in the streets of Tours.
Pierre-Ange Savelli, cabinet director for the prefect of Indre-et-Loire, announced that seven individuals were taken into police custody during Saturday, October 31. Alongside the peak attendance of 12,000 participants around 3:00 PM, the prefecture recorded six vandalized businesses and fifteen separate fires.
Administrative Orders and Curfew Suspension
Saturday’s events, much like the previous mobilization on October 24, fell under a prefectural decree prohibiting demonstrations in the city centers of Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. Additionally, a new restriction was introduced when the prefect ordered a downtown curfew in Tours from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM. However, the administrative tribunal of Orléans suspended this curfew just one hour before it was set to take effect, following an emergency challenge brought by the Syndicate of French Lawyers (SAF).
Despite the court ruling, Pierre-Ange Savelli maintained that the tribunal’s decision was not a rejection of the prefecture’s authority. He noted that the administrative tribunal validated most of the measures implemented by the prefect, specifically the ban on demonstrations.
Details on the Curfew Ruling
Explaining the legal grounds for suspending the curfew, the cabinet director stated that the designated perimeter was deemed overly broad and that certain exceptions lacked clarity, particularly concerning medical access near the Clocheville pediatric hospital, which fell within the restricted zone.
Savelli also addressed the threat assessment behind the measure, explaining that the prefecture acted on concerns regarding potential threats to both property and persons. He reaffirmed that a curfew remains part of the available security tools whenever significant risks arise to safeguard people and property.
