No vote against, it’s rare enough to be highlighted. The unanimous National Assembly on Thursday evening gave the green light to the new offense of “separatism”, one of the flagship measures of the bill “reinforcing respect for the principles of the Republic”, wanted by Emmanuel Macron. On the fourth day of consideration of this text which targets radical Islamism, the deputies adopted its article 4 by 130 votes in favor and 4 abstentions.
This article provides for the punishment of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros for any person threatening, violating or intimidating an elected official or an agent of the public service with the aim of completely or partially evading the rules of public services. If the offense is committed by a foreigner, a ban from French territory may be pronounced.
Obligation to file a complaint
These provisions should make it possible to penalize communitarian pressure and are part of the measures prepared by the government after the assassination last October of the teacher Samuel Paty, who had suffered threats after showing caricatures of Muhammad to his students.
The parliamentarians debated at length the support of agents. They had already added in committee that the administration itself could file a complaint against such threats, violence or intimidation against one of its agents.
“Give a strong signal to protect officers”
Rather than a simple faculty, the Assembly voted Thursday the obligation of such a complaint by the hierarchical superior, but after the collection of the consent of the victim. “The hierarchy must get involved, we must not leave the public official alone,” argued Cécile Untermaier, of the PS group, at the origin of the debate. “State administrations have the unfortunate tendency to put dust under the carpet”, added Jean-Christophe Lagarde (UDI), in favor of the obligation to complain like other elected officials from various sides.
Former manager at the ANPE then at Pôle emploi, Florence Granjus (LREM) testified to having been attacked twenty years ago in her functions, without daring to file a complaint.
Co-rapporteur Laurence Vichnievsky (MoDem) underlined that she wanted to “give a strong signal to protect agents”. But “sometimes” they do not want there to be a complaint, hence the addition of the need for the consent of the victim. “We think of Samuel Paty”, “at worst”, but “there are situations where (the complaint) is not useful”, also estimated the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti, relying on the “wisdom” of deputies.
Original article by : www.leparisien.fr
