Assembly removes protections for foreign victims from sexual violence bill
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The French National Assembly has passed an "integral law" against sexual violence, though not without controversy. During the reading, the Macronist bloc voted alongside the National Rally to remove articles that aimed to provide better protection for foreign victims of sexual violence. Minister Delegate for Equality, Aurore Bergé, publicly defended the decision, stating, "No, I am not ashamed."
In other political developments, new evidence has surfaced regarding antisemitism allegations against Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally. Mediapart claims to have established a direct link between Bardella's official social media account and a Messenger conversation from 2013 containing antisemitic views, which they suggest he unintentionally revealed through technical and biographical cross-referencing.
Meanwhile, amidst ongoing high school protests, students are now reporting specific instances of police misconduct. Beyond physical violence, several teenagers allege experiencing sexist and racist remarks from police officers before and during their detention, leading to formal complaints. This comes as the executive, including President Emmanuel Macron and the Minister of National Education, faces criticism for appearing disconnected from the economic realities underlying social unrest.