Irony of life, François Molins finds himself at the start of this week La Roche-sur-Yonwhere the former Paris prosecutor gives a course on terrorism to Master 1 students at ICES, the Catholic Institute of Vendée. On the land of the Minister of the Interior, whose comments on the rule of law are controversial. Sunday, Bruno Retailleau affirmed in the JDD that the rule of law “is not intangible nor sacred”.
Face of anti-terrorism during the wave of attacks between 2012 and 2018, François Molins reacted to these comments: “The rule of law is consubstantial with democracy because it is an instrument for limiting the powers of the State to ensure the exercise of freedoms. Of course these statements are worrying! And I find it hard to understand how we can say such things.”.
The honorary public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation further specifies: “There cannot be a democracy that is not based on the rule of law. This is often what Laurent Fabius said, we must not confuse the state of law, which is made to change and adapt to society, with the rule of law, which is something sacred.”
“The rule of law is based on a system of values, which is the European Convention on Human Rights”
François Molins adds this important notion: “Today, the rule of law is also based on a system of values to which France has adhered, which is the European Convention on Human Rights. It serves to guarantee rights and to protect fundamental freedoms citizens. It is one of the great texts which founded our society and which we cannot return to. Unless we completely transform the regime in which we live and we will no longer be in a democracy.”
This Tuesday morning, Bruno Retailleau returned to his statements, regretting “false debates” while recalling that the rule of law was “at the foundation of our Republic”. And at midday, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced that any questioning of the rule of law is part of the “red lines” by Michel Barnier. That is, a few hours before the Prime Minister’s general policy statement.
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