Updated - French interior minister to be questioned by parliament Monday
A number of MPs of the National Front called
for questioning the prime minister and the interior minister. The National
Front accused the French presidency of seeking to establish an illegal parallel
police.
A week ago, the online portal of Le Monde
newspaper released a video of Alexandre Benalla, Macron’s bodyguard, beating a
demonstrator on May 1.
Benalla and four policemen were arrested for
facilitating his access to the demonstration scene and committing illegal
actions.
On Sunday, the French prosecution released
the five suspects. The case is deemed to be a tough test facing Macron
regarding transparency, respect of the law and constitution, especially from
the president and his aides at the Élysée Palace.
In another development BFM TV channel, owned
by French billionaire Patrick Drahi, said Macron had commissioned 26-year-old Benalla
to establish a special security apparatus for the presidency.
The channel revealed that Macron allocated
the press hall at the Élysée Palace for this planned apparatus. It added the
arrest of Benalla undermined the plan. Three commissions were formed by the
General Assembly, the Senate and the Interior Ministry to investigate the case.
