Minister of Justice in France ponders tougher penalties following chaos that tainted PSG victory celebrations.
In the aftermath of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)'s thrilling Champions League victory, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has proposed a hardline approach to address the increasing violence during football celebrations.
Last weekend's crazy festivities following PSG's historic win in the European football showcase in Germany were marked by clashes, car-torching, and disturbing incidents, such as the tragic deaths of a 17-year-old and a 23-year-old[3].
Darmanin, eying the 2027 presidential race, isn't happy with the current court sentences, claiming they're not harsh enough[1][2]. He believes some convictions for violence against law enforcement and property destruction don't match the severity of the chaos witnessed in France[1].
To make the law more stringent, Darmanin calls for an end to obligatory adjustments for jail terms of under six months[1][2][4]. This means no more house arrest for those serving short sentences, with an electronic bracelet as an alternative[1][4].
Additionally, the minister wants to scrap suspended sentences in similar cases and introduce a system of "systematic minimum sentences" for offenders[1][4]. According to Darmanin, this could mean a jail term of at least three months for anyone attacking a state representative or committing significant property destruction[1].
However, some voices in the justice system question the feasibility of the proposed measures. Aurelien Martini, deputy secretary-general of the magistrates union, argues that previous attempts at minimum sentences, implemented from 2007 to 2014, failed[1]. He points out that France's prison population has already reached a record high, with over 83,600 inmates, exceeding the system's capacity of around 62,500[1].
Emmanuel Macron, in receiving the triumphant team at the Elysee palace, strongly condemned the violence during the celebrations[1]. Many stars of PSG, one of the youngest teams in the competition, hail from the immense football talent pool in the Paris suburbs[1]. A grand total of 11.5 million people tuned in across France to watch the match[1].
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
(Note: This information is based on available data at the time of creation and subject to change. Facts and figures referenced are approximate.)
(Sources: [1] France 24, [2] Agence France-Presse, [3] Le Monde, [4] Liberation)
- The victory of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League has sparked a discussion on policy-and-legislation as French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin proposes a hardline approach to tackle increasing violence during football celebrations.
- Following last weekend's chaotic celebrations after PSG's historic win, Darmanin is advocating for an end to obligatory lowering of jail terms for offenses under six months, which would mean no more house arrest for those serving such sentences.
- The minister also proposes to scrap suspended sentences in similar cases and replace them with "systematic minimum sentences," with at least three months in jail for anyone attacking a state representative or causing significant property destruction.
- In the general-news realm, some voices in the justice system question the feasibility of Darmanin's proposals, citing the failure of previous minimum sentence initiatives and the overcrowding of prisons.
