Darmanin More Alone Than Ever With the Double Rebellion of Lawyers and Judges

While French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin is counting the days to pass his new judicial reform law through the National Assembly, he is facing one of the most difficult political crises of his career. The bill, which aims to ensure criminal justice and protect the rights of victims, will be on the National Assembly's agenda on 30 Haziran Salı günü. However, the content of the bill is drawing massive backlash from both members of the judiciary and lawyers. Darmanin has to both break the resistance of professional organizations and secure the support of lawmakers. Political observers point out that the minister will have to make an extraordinary effort to get this law passed.

One of the most criticized aspects of the bill is the shown shortcomings regarding the fight against violence towards women and children. Many parliamentarians argue that the law in question is far from offering a holistic and comprehensive approach in this area. Lawmakers are demanding separate and comprehensive legislation that tackles all dimensions to prevent violence against Women and children. The current text, however, is mostly focused on criminal penal policies and criminal judicial processes. This situation causes hesitation towards the bill even within the ruling party.

Another major reason for Darmanin's isolation is the joint reaction from the judicial community and lawyers. Judges and prosecutors are concerned that the law contains certain articles that interfere with judicial independence. Lawyers, on the other hand, warn that professional rights could be restricted and the fair progression of trial processes could be jeopardized. Both groups mobilizing at the same time multiplies the political pressure on Darmanin. This unity reveals how strong the social opposition is against the government's judicial reform plans.

The political obstacles facing the minister stem not only from opposition parties but also from internal inconsistencies. In negotiations to secure a majority in the Assembly, the demand of some sensitive lawmakers for stronger regulations in favor of violence victims complicates the bargaining. Furthermore, the public's sensitivity on the issue brings up the possibility of the government stepping back or making revisions. Darmanin is expected to try to gather support by making last-minute changes to the bill. However, what kind of new reactions the steps to be taken to convince the judiciary and lawyers will trigger remains uncertain for now.

In Fransa, the increase in incidents of violence against women and children in recent years and the strong public pressure formed for taking effective measures on this issue directly affect the legislative processes. Despite Darmanin's defense that he centers crime victims, critics believe it will be insufficient. The opposition that may arise during the assembly discussions of the bill and potential amendment proposals will shape the future of the text. As a result, this process has turned into a severe test of the sensitive balances and political dynamics regarding the judicial system in Fransa. In the coming weeks, to what extent Darmanin can protect and legislate the law will continue to be one of the most debated topics on the political agenda.