Overview
- President Emmanuel Macron proposed senator François‑Noël Buffet to replace Claire Hédon as Défenseur des droits, with Parliament set to decide on 21 July.
- Many civil society groups oppose Buffet because of his past stances on abortion, marriage equality, and state healthcare for undocumented migrants.
- The Défenseur des droits recorded 165,000 solicitations in 2025, a 17% rise from the prior year and almost 70% more than in 2020, driven mainly by a jump in complaints about foreigners' rights from 10% to over 40% in five years.
- The office can investigate cases, request explanations, mediate disputes, and make recommendations but cannot overturn court decisions or impose sanctions, which limits its ability to resolve the growing caseload.
- A Cour des comptes report on 16 July flagged low public awareness of the institution, and the office operates with roughly 250 staff and 600 volunteers across more than 1,000 local reception points since its creation in 2011.