Hollande to ask parliament to extend state of emergency

French president Francois Hollande has said that he would like to extend the country’s state of emergency till the next election. Hollande said this during a live interview on France24.

“As long as the threat exists, as long as we need measures which are exceptional we are under a state of emergency. There will be a presidential in the coming weeks, there will be gatherings and so the government has proposed to parliament that the state of emergency be extended till the presidential elections,” said Hollande.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls also confirmed that the proposal will be put to parliament, adding that the country being in a state of emergency allowed authorities to make arrests and administrative checks which he said have been effective.