An illegal rave party gathering some 2,000 people in southern France on Saturday defied a regional ban — and starkly laid out opposition to a government bill seeking to criminalise such behaviour.
Police who flew by helicopter over the the “free party” taking place on open land in Claret, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the city of Montpellier gave the estimate of the crowd.
The local prefecture said police were deployed “to close access to the rave party, to prevent new vehicles arriving, and to stop and check all vehicles leaving”.
Authorities in the region of Herault, where it was happening, have passed a local law banning the holding of all types of rave parties to the end of this year.
The French government is also speeding through parliament a security bill aiming to boost police powers, toughen responses to common offences and crack down on behaviour deemed to disrupt public order.
The bill — called the Ripost Law — targets several problematic activities including illegal raves, calling for €30,000 ($35,000) fines and two years’ imprisonment for organisers of such events, and €7,500 fines for participants.
The legislation is currently before the French parliament, with the government hoping to have it adopted within months.
But associations defending “free parties” are pushing back, and are holding demonstrations across France.
