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| Paris attacks: French MPs back constitutional changes | Paris attacks: French MPs back constitutional changes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French MPs have voted overwhelmingly to change state-of-emergency provisions in the constitution, following November's attacks in Paris. | French MPs have voted overwhelmingly to change state-of-emergency provisions in the constitution, following November's attacks in Paris. |
| The lower house voted 317-199 to adopt the package of measures. There were 51 abstentions. | The lower house voted 317-199 to adopt the package of measures. There were 51 abstentions. |
| As well as enshrining emergency powers in the constitution, the package of measures would allow terror convicts to be stripped of their citizenship. | As well as enshrining emergency powers in the constitution, the package of measures would allow terror convicts to be stripped of their citizenship. |
| But the vote still has to jump several hurdles before it passes into law. | But the vote still has to jump several hurdles before it passes into law. |
| It needs support from the Senate and will then have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of a joint session of parliament, which is likely to take weeks or months. | It needs support from the Senate and will then have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of a joint session of parliament, which is likely to take weeks or months. |
| Nonetheless, it is a significant victory for the French government, which had faced opposition from leading voices, some among its own ranks, say correspondents. | Nonetheless, it is a significant victory for the French government, which had faced opposition from leading voices, some among its own ranks, say correspondents. |
| Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he was "satisfied" with the result and that he was confident senators would also approve the changes. | |
| Justice Minister Christian Taubira resigned last month in protest at the measures. | Justice Minister Christian Taubira resigned last month in protest at the measures. |
| Critics say the proposal to strip those convicted of terror offences of their French citizenship could only apply to people with a second nationality, which would make two tiers of citizenship. | |
| President Francois Hollande outlined the changes in the aftermath of the gun and bomb attacks by Islamist militants who targeted a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants and bars - leaving 130 people dead and hundreds more wounded. | |
| The so-called Islamic State group said it was behind the attacks. Seven suspects blew themselves up during the attacks, with two more dying in a police raid days afterwards. | |
| Key suspect Salah Abdeslam has been on the run since the attacks. | |
| Also on Wednesday, the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people died, said in a statement it was aiming to host events again by the end of 2016, AP reports. |