The draft also strips some oversight powers from judges and gives security officials more latitude to act without judicial review. Critics of the emergency powers say that they have been applied indiscriminately, not just to combat terrorism. “Emergency powers are effective because they are unusual,” said François Heisbourg, an analyst with the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research. The proposal “tries to preserve the balance between controlling terrorism and respecting liberties,” French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said Wednesday on France’s TF1 television station. “For 30 years we’ve been fighting terrorism within the realm of the rule of law,” said Jean-Charles Brisard, a French terrorism expert.

Source: Washington Post June 22, 2017 16:41 UTC