French Government Seeks to Extend State of Emergency to July 2017

The French government said Saturday it would ask parliament to approve an extension to the country's state of emergency measures to July 2017. 
The measures were enacted after terrorist attacks around Paris in November 2015 which targeted a national stadium, concert hall and restaurants, leaving 130 people dead. 
They allow for expanded police power - including searches and data seizures without a warrant - and have been criticized by human rights groups. 
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the state of emergency should remain in place due to parliamentary and presidential elections set for the coming months. 
By law, the exceptional measures expire 15 days after a government resigns. Manuel Valls stepped down as prime minister on Tuesday to campaign for the Socialist presidential primary, leaving former interior minister Cazeneuve to head the government, dpa reported

Source: QNA