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Music Festival: the police prefecture has banned the concert scheduled at Place de la République

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The Editor

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Just a few days before the Music Festival, while La France insoumise was planning to set up in Republic Square this Sunday, June 21, with a series of free concerts and speeches, the Paris police prefecture ultimately banned the event.

As part of the Fête de la Musique, LFI wanted to organize a big festive gathering following a march against racism. The program included several artists from the rap, electro, and pop scenes, such as Dinaa, Kulturr, 2L, and DJ Guido from the Acid Arab collective. The event was set to take place from 6 PM to midnight at the Place de la République. However, this Wednesday evening, the police prefecture published a ban, bringing a halt to months of preparations by the organizers.


The arguments put forward by the prefecture

To justify its decision, the prefecture cites several risks of public order disturbances. In its decree, it suggests that the event could attract an audience hostile towards law enforcement. Furthermore, the authorities point out that no temporary occupation permit for public space was obtained from the City of Paris for the setup of the stage and technical equipment. 

 

A decision that prompts reactions

Unsurprisingly, LFI's reaction was immediate. Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Manuel Bompart denounce this as a political decision made under pressure from their opponents. The leaders of the movement remind that the organization of the concert was in...

preparation for several months. La France insoumise has announced its intention to file a request with the administrative court in an effort to obtain the suspension of the decree before Sunday. 

A Tense Music Festival Celebration

This ban comes in an already sensitive context for the Parisian authorities. With numerous events scheduled in the capital, enhanced security measures in place, and the crowds expected for the Music Festival, the prefecture states it must mobilize substantial resources to manage the weekend gatherings.

It remains to be seen whether the administrative judge will confirm or lift this ban. One thing is certain: just a few days before June 21, the score for this Parisian Music Festival is taking a much more political turn than anticipated.