French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, seen here in July, urged the French government to extend the state of emergency by six months, saying 17 attacks on the country have been thwarted. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

PARIS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The French government decided to extend until July 15 the country's emergency anti-terrorism measures after some 17 attacks on the country have been thwarted so far this year and the presidential election approaches.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Saturday it is "essential" to extend the state of emergency and the risk of terrorism remains at a "high level." That includes an increased risk for candidates pursuing the office of president. Parliament, in a special cabinet meeting, agreed to extend the state of emergency until July 15.


The measures give law enforcement greater powers to search and detain suspects and ban gatherings. They were enacted after the Nov. 13, 2015 gun and bomb attacks by the Islamic State that left 130 dead in and near Paris, including at Bataclan concert hall. The state of emergency was extended for six months in July.

"The state of emergency is not permanent, it's a lever we have to pull in the face of an imminent peril," Cazeneuve said.

The extension will cover the presidential and parliamentary polls from April to June, and Bastille Day on July 14.

The extended powers under the measure have come under fire from human-rights groups that criticize it as an overreach.