Full Breakdown
French Parliament Passes Controversial “Benefit-of-the-Doubt” Law for Police Shootings
7/10/2026, 12:28:00 PM
Legislative Approval and Key Provisions
On July 8, 2026, the French National Assembly voted 313-199 to approve a bill that presumes police officers who kill someone by shooting acted within the law unless proven otherwise. The measure, long championed by the far-right, still requires approval by the Senate. If enacted, prosecutors could reverse the presumption only after a full investigation.
Rise in Police Shootings – Background Data
Fatal police shootings in France have risen sharply, with the internal oversight bodies IGPN and IGGN recording 69 deaths in 2024, up from 49 in 2023 and 50 in 2022. A 2017 law that broadened circumstances for firearm use—particularly when officers cannot stop a vehicle—has been linked by academics to a five-fold increase in lethal incidents involving moving vehicles. High-profile cases, such as the 2023 killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzoukin, have sparked nationwide unrest and intensified scrutiny of police conduct.
Official Statements & Responses
- “it does not lead to penal irresponsibility — at any moment, if the circumstances are reunited, any prosecutor can reverse this presumption.” — Laurent Nunez, Interior Minister
- “the law would slow down investigations into police violence and that the burden of proof would fall on the families of victims.” — Marie-Laure Geoffray, Amnesty International
Criticism, Opposition, and Public Reaction
Left-wing lawmakers and human-rights groups argue the bill grants impunity. “There will be more deaths — if you authorise someone to use their firearm with the idea that they won’t be accountable, then they will just shoot.” — Pouria Amirshahi, left-wing lawmaker
“This law grants police impunity.” — Pouria Amirshahi
Critics have labeled the proposal a “licence to kill.” Activists report that more than 360,000 people have signed a petition on the National Assembly website, launched by Issam El Khalfaoui, whose son was shot by police in 2021. The petition reflects broad public concern that the legislation will further erode accountability for police violence.
