The Minister of Justice was the guest of “8h30 franceinfo”, Friday October 6, 2023.
Éric Dupond-Moretti, Keeper of the Seals and Minister of Justice, was the guest of “8h30 franceinfo”, Friday October 6, 2023. Justice reform, new prison places, Court of Justice of the Republic, Jean-Luc Mélenchon “best ally” of the RN… He answers questions from Benjamin Fontaine and Agathe Lambret.
Justice reform: it is “historic”
“I didn’t come to do bodybuilding, but it’s a historic reform”, believes Éric Dupond-Moretti, regarding the draft orientation and programming law for the Ministry of Justice 2023-2027. Thursday, October 5, deputies and senators reached an agreement in the joint committee (CMP) ratifying most of the provisions, after its adoption this summer at first reading by both chambers.
The justice reform text notably increases the budget from 9.6 billion euros in 2023 to nearly 11 billion by 2027 and provides for massive hiring. “In terms of staff, it’s 1,500 more magistrates, it’s 1,800 more clerks. These are contract workers, whom we have called ‘attaches of justice’, who will arrive in the thousands in the courts”, welcomes the minister. The hiring of 600 prison integration and probation advisors, voted by the Senate, was however ruled out in the CMP.
Prisons: “We are a little behind” on the creation of 15,000 more places
“We are a little late” on the creation of 15,000 additional prison places, recognizes Éric Dupond-Moretti. Emmanuel Macron’s campaign promise in 2017, their creation is now planned by 2027. According to the Minister of Justice, “two reasons” explain this delay. First of all, “Covid has been there”. “Anyone who has had to build a single-family home knows that things were obviously delayed”, he points out. The second reason, “It’s the shortage of materials, the Ukraine war”.
Trial before the Court of Justice of the Republic: “This has never hindered my work as minister”
Being suspected of illegal taking of interests “never hindered my work as minister”affirms Éric Dupond-Moretti, ensuring at the same time that he wants “work until the last minute”, a few weeks before his referral to the Court of Justice of the Republic, an unprecedented hearing in the history of the Fifth Republic. He also suggests that he will work “again then, obviously, because there are things you can’t let go.” His goal, he explains, “It’s so that the Ministry of Justice can continue to operate. That’s it, it’s clear, clear and precise.” It’s even “the only thing that counts” for him.
The “best ally of the RN is Jean-Luc Mélenchon”
“The best ally of the National Rally [RN]that I fight, it’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon”, says Éric Dupond-Moretti. For him, “these are the excesses” of the leader of La France insoumise (LFI) “which allow us to highlight the silence of the National Rally”. The criticism does not only apply to the former presidential candidate. “All the excesses of LFI make us view the National Rally as peaceful, demonized, tranquil and calm”, insists the Minister of Justice. A reference to the attitude of the Insoumis deputies and that of the RN deputies, in the hemicycle.
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Find the entire “8:30 a.m. franceinfo” from Friday October 6, 2023: