In the wake of violent unrest sparked by Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League victory celebrations, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has demanded tougher punishments for those convicted of violence against law enforcement officers.
Speaking on social media, Darmanin criticized the current legal framework as “too soft and insufficient” to handle the rising levels of violence across the country.
“After serious public order incidents and repeated riots this past weekend, some penalties for violence — especially against law enforcement officers and property destruction — no longer match the severity of violence in our country,” he wrote.
The minister emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive legal reform, urging the judiciary to have broader sentencing powers aligned with today’s crime realities.
Among his proposals, Darmanin suggested removing rules that prohibit prison sentences shorter than six months, stressing that it is time to “fundamentally change the law.”
