Obviously, no city wants to welcome the “freedom convoy”. After the ban on demonstrations on Saturday in Paris – which the antipasses did not take into account – then that of Brussels, it is Strasbourg’s turn to put a stop to the antipasses. Because if part of these convoys set off in the direction of Belgium, some decided to make a stop in Alsace, where the symbolic European Parliament resides.
The prefect of Bas-Rhin Josiane Chevalier issued an order on Monday prohibiting any “undeclared event” anti-vaccine pass convoys near Parliament, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg. “My first concern is to protect the session of Parliament which must take place in good conditions until Thursday evening”underlines the prefect in a press release, saying that she does not know for the moment the number of demonstrators who could converge on the Alsatian capital.
“Several road convoys seem to have formed to reach Strasbourg” with for “displayed objective […] to join the European institutions” and D’“obstruct road traffic”, indicates the prefecture. One “device” of the forces of order is thus being deployed, they will be able to “verbalize and arrest offenders”. And the note could be salty.
“Hindering or obstructing a road open to public traffic is punishable by two years’ imprisonment, a fine of 4,500 euros, the immobilization and the impoundment of the vehicle used”, she recalls. This offense can also be punished by “the reduction by half of the maximum number of points of the driving licence” and “a suspension of the driving license for a maximum period of three years”. As for the organizer of a prohibited demonstration, “He can be punished by six months’ imprisonment and a fine of 7,500 euros”again according to the prefecture.
One more rejection therefore, but it will certainly take more to resign the demonstrators. On the side of the convoy heading to Brussels, 1,300 vehicles did not hesitate to stop on Sunday evening in a parking lot not far from the border, near Lille, even though the Belgian authorities recalled the ban on demonstrations in the capital this Monday.