FRENCH ELECTRONIC MUSIC PROTEST AGAINST THE SENATE

The French dance music community is reacting to a new bill aimed at parties.

The “anti-rave” bill was approved by the French Senate at the end of October and will be reviewed by the National Assembly as the last step before it becomes law. The aim of the bill is to “strengthen supervision of rave parties and sanctions against their organizers,” and involves increasing paperwork and increasing fines for promoters, as well as threatening the confiscation of equipment.

Jennifer Cardini described the bill as “unrealistic” and “dangerous,” as it comes in the wake of growing tensions between the French authorities and the clubs and promoters.

In recent years, the French police have acted by putting pressure on the clubs and forcing them to close because of the drug deaths that have occurred, as they did with Dehors Brut in early September. “After last year’s incidents and deaths, the response has always been repressive rather than meeting with club owners, party promoters and the different organizations fighting for more prevention and dialogue,” Cardini said in an interview with Resident Advisor.