The National Assembly has passed a bill significantly strengthening sanctions against free parties, the techno gatherings often organized without authorization. Supported by the government and the right wing, the bill was adopted in its first reading with 78 votes against 67, according to AFP. This decision has deeply divided elected officials and cultural figures, between those who want regulation and those who fear increased repression.
Expanded sanctions for organizers and participants
Sponsored by Horizons MP Laetitia Saint-Paul, the law aims to more strictly regulate these events, which are accused of generating noise pollution, vandalism, and local tensions, particularly with farmers. According to AFP, it introduces penalties of up to six months in prison and a €30,000 fine for anyone involved in organizing an undeclared free party.
The text deliberately broadens the definition of responsibilities to make it easier to sanction organizers, who are often difficult to identify. It also provides for a fine of €1,500 for participants, which can rise to €3,000 in case of repeat offenses—an unprecedented measure. At the same time, the threshold for mandatory notification is lowered to 250 people, down from 500 previously, which could affect a large proportion of these gatherings.
For the government, these measures respond to sanctions that were previously considered "insufficiently dissuasive", as stated by the Minister Delegate for the Interior, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, quoted by AFP.
A law fiercely contested by the left and the tech community
This reform, however, has sparked strong opposition. On the left, several members of parliament denounce it as an attack on cultural freedoms and an alternative form of celebration. Andy Kerbrat (LFI) has accused the state of "organizing the illegality of free parties" by refusing the necessary permits, according to franceinfo.
In the world of electronic music, the mobilization is just as strong. In an opinion piece published in Télérama, industry players, including the Technopol association, argue that "a policy that criminalizes and so violently represses free parties" is more a matter of "authoritarianism" than security. They also warn of a counterproductive effect: pushing these events even further underground, with increased risks for participants.
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