Eric Dupond-Moretti: “I really want Emmanuel Macron to represent himself”

Eric Dupond-Moretti was the guest on Tuesday evening of our political InstaLive, on the TF1 Instagram account, in the company of Adrien Gindre, editor-in-chief of the political service of TF1-LCI. Justice reform, clandestine dinners, re-election of Emmanuel Macron, the Minister of Justice answered users’ questions. Here is what we can learn from it.

The Keeper of the Seals is due to present to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday April 14 a bill for “restore confidence” in justice. One of the flagship measures is the recording and broadcasting of hearings. “If the French see how their justice works they will understand it more. They will be able to criticize it, but in the good sense of the word”, did he declare. The former lawyer wants all types of cases to be filmed, “cases that nobody would have spoken of, criminal hearings, but also civil”.

The French will not need a specialized knowledge of the law to follow and understand these hearings, estimates Eric Dupond-Moretti. “We see what is the job of the judge, the prosecutors, the police, how someone comes to testify.” For him it is important “that we know that it is complicated, that there are a certain number of rules”. “I want everything but trash and something very educational.”

The text supported by Eric Dupond-Moretti validates the abolition of automatic penalty reduction credits. The judge responsible for the application of sentences may grant reductions in sentences for convicted persons having “given sufficient proof of good behavior or who have shown serious efforts at reintegration”. The minister defended his measure on Tuesday on Instagram: “Today there are two systems: an automatic credit system and an effort reduction system. I want a single system, an effort reduction system. in terms of the qualities and possibilities of each. ” “For desocialized young people, getting up in the morning is an effort, treating yourself for a drug addict is an effort, learning to read is an effort”, indicated the Keeper of the Seals, who wants “make sure to bring work to prison”.

Eric Dupond-Moretti was questioned about the recourse against the State for “gross negligence” filed by the parents of Anne-Lise, a young woman who was raped in October 2020 by a man released from prison before his scheduled release date, in November 2021. According to them, the alleged rapist was released last year because of Covid-19, when 6,000 inmates were granted early release to limit the spread of the virus in prisons. But the minister immediately contested. “Contrary to what has been said, it is not at all because of the release of a number of detainees due to Covid that this man has been released.”

“This man was released because a judge responsible for the application of sentences decided it after a psychiatric examination, after having consulted with all the usual interlocutors in terms of conditional release”, he assured. “We can always tell ourselves that the judge could have had a crystal ball (…) Those who do not reoffend because they have been granted parole are a very large majority, they never make the headlines. From time to time, it’s true, there is this situation, unbearable, trying for everyone “, continued Eric Dupond-Moretti, assuring that the “zero recidivism does not exist”.

“I would not have served any President, I accepted his words above all else, even at a time when I did not imagine that I could be a minister”, confided the minister, questioned about his relationship with Emmanuel Macron. “I agreed with his initial statement on the divisions. Macron is someone daring, courageous”, he adds. “It gives me the means to consolidate, make, build a budget for justice which is the most beautiful for 25 years.”

“I am well here at the Ministry of Justice, I want to serve my country. I really wish that Emmanuel Macron stands for a new term, and if he does represent himself and asks me to do so, I will be honored, proud and very up for it for help.”