Everything’s back to normal now. Only 425 cars torched New Year’s Eve. Why, that was “calmer than usual.” Who can be concerned about that?
From Reuters, with thanks to JE:
France says it will lift a state of emergency on Wednesday, which was introduced in November during the worst violence in the country in nearly 40 years.
The decision was made after calmer than expected new year celebrations.
Officials had feared that the holiday season might trigger new violent protests against racism and unemployment by youths of African and Arab origin as well as whites from poor areas.
Officials say President Jacques Chirac will end emergency measures giving regional officials power to impose curfews and to carry out searches during the day or at night without a judge’s order.
“The President decided to end the state of emergency as of January 4, 2006,” a spokeswoman for his office said.