Gérald Darmanin confronts legislative gap over juvenile detention and defends criminal‑justice reform

France’s Constitutional Council struck down a 2019 provision that allowed pre‑trial detention of 16‑ to 18‑year‑old suspects, giving the government until 1 July 2026 to amend the law. No amendment has been passed, creating a legal void that would make continued detention of minors unlawful. The Justice Ministry, magistrates’ unions and the USM have warned of the consequences, while the Ministry of Justice only recently asked prosecutors to assess the number of affected youths.

At the same time, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin is defending his controversial criminal‑justice bill in the National Assembly. The proposal, which originally included a “plea‑bargaining” procedure for serious crimes such as sexual offences, has been heavily criticized by judges, lawyers and feminist groups. After withdrawing the most contentious clause, Darmanin announced an amendment to fix the juvenile‑detention gap, expected by mid‑July. Protests by magistrates and lawyers during a “Justice mort” day underline the growing mistrust of the minister amid the Lyhanna case and broader calls for judicial reform.