Overview

• Gérald Darmanin, recently appointed as France's Justice Minister, has called for an increase in the Justice Ministry's budget to address inefficiencies in the judicial system.
• During visits to the Amiens judicial court and Liancourt prison, Darmanin highlighted the slow pace of justice, citing complaints from magistrates and the public.
• He proposed hiring more magistrates and clerks to reduce case backlogs and improve the speed of judicial decisions, which have seen significant delays over the past decade.
• Darmanin also addressed the issue of prison overcrowding, advocating for the construction of smaller, community-oriented detention facilities to ensure the execution of short-term sentences.
• The minister pledged to work collaboratively with unions and other stakeholders, while also emphasizing a policy of firmness in tackling issues such as narcotics trafficking and violent crimes.