Senate President suggests banning La France Insoumise
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The government is attempting to regain control of the narrative after the violence of October 17, with the executive branch and right-wing parties moving to isolate the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI). Gérard Larcher, the President of the Senate, has gone so far as to suggest the state consider banning the party altogether on the grounds of inciting unrest.
The judiciary is moving with similar haste. Nearly 300 people have appeared before the Paris judicial court in two days; prosecutors are systematically requesting pre-trial detention for those accused of looting. It is an approach that mirrors the government's response to revolts in New Caledonia earlier this year: a firm hand in court and a search for a political scapegoat.
The pressure is unlikely to dissipate by the weekend. The Yellow Vest coordination has already filed a notice to protest in the capital this Saturday, while trade unions are expected to meet at the Prime Minister's office to decide their own next steps.