French Parliament rejects life sentence for child rapists after heated debate

Deputies in the French National Assembly voted down an amendment that would have introduced a mandatory life imprisonment term for serial rapes of minors under 15. The proposal, backed by the government and the far‑right Rassemblement national, was opposed by left‑wing parties and ecologists, who argued that preventive measures and support for victims were more effective.

Minister Aurore Bergé vowed to bring the measure back for a new vote on Tuesday, while LFI rapporteur Marianne Maximi warned that only about 3 % of such offenders are currently convicted. The debate referenced the case of Le Scouarnec, who received a maximum of 20 years for 299 child rapes, and noted an accompanying amendment extending imprescriptibility to crimes against minors. The outcome postpones but does not end the government’s push for harsher penalties.