Bruno Retailleau regrets the “false debates” on the rule of law, “foundation of our Republic”
In a press release, Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, considers that “The issue of the protection and security of the French is too serious and serious to be exploited by false debates. (…) Of course, there can be no democracy without the rule of law, without public authorities respecting the law and freedoms. This is the basis of our Republic. »
On Sunday, Mr. Retailleau declared, in an interview with Sunday newspaperthat the rule of law “it is neither intangible nor sacred”, arousing disapproval even in the presidential camp with criticism from several personalities, including the president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, and former prime minister Elisabeth Borne.
“We must face reality, we owe it to the French, as Michel Barnier reminded us: today, the law does not sufficiently protect the French, argues the Minister of the Interior. Of course, there can be no democracy without the rule of law, without public authorities respecting the law and freedoms. »
“When the current texts no longer guarantee all rights – starting with the first of them, the right to be protected – they must evolve, fully respecting the institutions of our Republic”continues Mr. Retailleau, who concludes that “This is what the French ask of us and what we will do under the authority of the Prime Minister.”
Just before his clarification, the prosecutor general of the Court of Cassation, Rémy Heitz, criticized the statements of the Minister of the Interior on Franceinfo. The rule of law “neither intangible nor sacred” ? “I don’t agree with this at all. (…). The rule of law is fundamental, which does not mean that we cannot change the law”but “We must not touch the rule of law and we must even strengthen it”the magistrate stated, before ensuring that “The rule of law is a bit like freedom: we should not regret when we have lost it”.