French Parliament Passes Controversial Police Use‑of‑Force Presumption Law

The French National Assembly approved, on a first reading, a law that creates a legal presumption that police officers and gendarmes acted within the authorized circumstances when they fire their weapons. The vote was 313 in favour and 199 against, with backing from the government, the centre‑right LR group and the RN‑UDR alliance.

The measure shifts the burden of proof to prosecutors, who must now demonstrate that an officer acted unlawfully, rather than requiring the officer to prove the legality of the shooting. Critics have described the reform as a “permit to kill,” while police unions hailed it as a “big step” for officers. In a detailed commentary, lawyer Laurent‑Franck Liénard warned that the text does not grant immunity and noted that municipal police were excluded. Public reaction includes a petition against the law that has gathered more than 587,000 signatures, contrasted with a pro‑law petition that has attracted about 2,000 sign‑ups.