National Party deputy and candidate for mayor of Marseille, Franck Allisio, this Tuesday called for a “state of emergency in Marseille” to combat drug trafficking, ahead of a summit on the issue called by Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée.
“I ask the President of the Republic, as guarantor of the unity of our country, to deliver the first decisive blow against drug traffickers by declaring a state of emergency in the entire city of Marseille,” wrote Franck Allisio in a statement to AFP.
The state of emergency gives the Minister of the Interior special authority to decide to prohibit demonstrations, processions, parades and gatherings of people on public roads.
“Crime alert”
Emmanuel Macron called a crisis meeting to review the “implementation of drug trafficking laws” and “the situation in Marseille”, after some dramatic news in France in recent days, in particular the murder of the brother of Marseille environmental activist Amine Kessaci, who was involved in the fight against drug bandits.
In his statement, Franck Allisio denounced the possibility of a “warning crime” that represents “a new level crossing” in Marseille, which he said “fell” under the control of drug traffickers intent on “implementing their laws”.
“If we want to fight criminals as equals, the French state must mobilize its resources to the maximum now,” he stressed.
Without responding to the desire to impose a “state of emergency in Marseille”, the president this Tuesday asked during the meeting to “strengthen” the fight against drug trafficking. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, he will again gather those involved in the fight against drug trafficking “in mid-December” and then “will go himself” to Marseille.
