French Justice Reform Bill Backed by Gérald Darmanin Rejected in Parliamentary Committee

In a vote of 18‑16, deputies in the National Assembly’s Law Committee rejected the draft criminal‑justice bill promoted by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. The centerpiece of the proposal – a “plea‑bargaining” procedure that would reduce sentences by a third in exchange for a guilty plea – was adopted in a prior reading but faced sharp opposition from left‑wing members and the bar, who warned it would erode defendants’ rights. The government’s amendment to exclude all crimes tried by the Cour d’Assises, including sexual offences such as rape, was also accepted.

Other contested measures that survived the committee include extensions of the jurisdiction of departmental criminal courts, a provision allowing French authorities access to private foreign DNA‑testing databases to aid cold‑case investigations, and a reduction of procedural deadlines for nullity requests. The bill will return to the full Assembly for debate at the end of June, with its future uncertain after the committee’s rebuff.

The defeat reflects growing parliamentary resistance to the Justice Minister’s broader reform agenda and signals a tougher road ahead for the government’s attempt to overhaul France’s criminal‑procedure framework.