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🇫🇷 France /Crime & Justice

France Adopts Self-Defense Presumption for Police Amidst Protests

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The French National Assembly adopted a bill establishing a presumption of self-defense for law enforcement officers.
  • The vote was contentious, with opposition lawmakers calling it a "license to kill."
  • Protesters, including Assa Traoré, disrupted the session, leading to their removal and calls for sanctions.

France's National Assembly has adopted a controversial bill that creates a presumption of self-defense for police and gendarmes when they use their weapons. The legislation, initially proposed by LR lawmaker Eric Pauget and supported by the government, passed its first reading with 313 votes in favor and 199 against, with support from centrist parties and the National Rally-UDr alliance. The bill now moves to the Senate.

The session was marked by heated exchanges and disruptions, particularly from left-wing lawmakers who decried the bill as a "license to kill." They had filed hundreds of amendments in an attempt to obstruct the vote, which the government dismissed. Insoumis deputies shouted accusations of "fascism" and "racism," prompting the session's president, Hélène Laporte (RN), to announce potential sanctions.

This evening, LFI and the left have transformed the National Assembly into a theater of agitation.

— Alexandra MartinA right-wing lawmaker criticized the opposition's behavior during the vote.

Chaos erupted after the vote when several representatives from victims' collectives, including Assa Traoré, who is known for her activism following her brother Adama Traoré's death in 2016, were present in the galleries. As the bill passed, protesters chanted "No justice, no peace." One demonstrator was forcibly removed. Right-wing deputies shared videos on social media, identifying Traoré as a leading figure among the disruptors.

They bordelized the National Assembly to spew their hatred of cops.

— Matthieu ValletAn RN MEP commented on the disruption caused by protesters and left-wing lawmakers.

Right-wing lawmaker Alexandra Martin criticized the left and LFI for turning the National Assembly into a "theater of agitation." RN MEP Matthieu Vallet accused them of "bordelizing the National Assembly to spew their hatred of cops." Conversely, LFI deputy Thomas Portes defended Traoré's presence, calling her a "victim" of racist insults and stating her place was at the Assembly.

The vote comes amid ongoing debates about police conduct and accountability in France, following incidents like the death of Nahel M. The legal proceedings surrounding that case, including the appeal by the officer involved, are ongoing.

Yes, her place was yesterday at the National Assembly.

— Thomas PortesAn LFI deputy defended Assa Traoré's presence during the parliamentary session.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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