Eric Dupond-Moretti has just been appointed Minister of Justice in the government of Jean Castex. The 59-year-old criminal lawyer, known for his position and outspokenness, succeeds Nicole Belloubet. Between tense relations with the judiciary and knowledge of the terrain, the tenor of the bar divides. 

INTERVIEW

This is the feeling of this new government: the lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti was appointed Monday Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice in the government of Jean Castex. He succeeds Nicole Belloubet. 

The arrival in government of this tenor of the bar, feared by the assize courts, is one of the surprises of the new government. The 59-year-old criminal lawyer, nicknamed "Acquitator", has pleaded in many major legal cases: Outreau, Yvan Colonna, or more recently Abdelkader Merah. He also defended the interests of Jérôme Cahuzac, Patrick Balkany and Théo, one of the victims of police violence. But the first reactions to his appointment, on the antenna of Europe 1, are divided. 

>> LIVE - Pompili to the Ecological Transition, Dupond-Moretti to Justice

The magistrates' union surprised: "Are we going to be able to move forward together?"

His thundering personality leaves no one indifferent, hence the sometimes complicated relationship with the judiciary. He had, for example, argued for the abolition of the ENM, the National School of Magistrates. "The justice system needs peace of mind in order to function, especially in relations between lawyers and magistrates, who are currently a bit obstructed," notes Katia Dubreuil, president of the magistrates' union. "So it is surprising to choose to be Keeper of the Seals, a lawyer who had very critical remarks still very recently on the magistrates, on the ENM. So, the question is: 'are we going to be able move forward together? '"

>> Discover the composition of the government of Jean Castex

"The problem is obviously not that we appoint a lawyer as Keeper of the Seals," says the president of the magistrates' union. "It is very good to appoint a lawyer Keeper of the Seals and, on the contrary, we can also hope for progress in terms of fundamental freedoms, on the question of the role of justice". 

On the side of political reactions, the far right has taken up the niche on social networks. "A justice is appointed an activist from the far left who wants to ban the RN, the first opposition party. It promises ...", tweeted Marine Le Pen, followed by his vice-president Jordan Bardella: "Worse that Taubira and Belloubet, Macron appoints to Justice the one who says he is "honored" and "proud" to be the lawyer of Abdelkader MERAH. What a shameful shipwreck. "

"He is fully aware of the difficulties of the judicial system"

"I am surprised, because this is not where we expected it. It seems to me that it does a little bit," said journalist Laetitia Krupa, a specialist in political communication. "We will still have to be careful not to mix styles. Politics remains a particular practice, although we are in 2020". It also points to a "mixture of genres" which can be a "handicap" for the post of Minister of Justice.

His quality as a lawyer can nevertheless prove to be an advantage in a context tense between the world of justice and the government. "He is fully aware of all the difficulties that the judicial system is going through. Whether it is the magistrates, the clerks, the lawyers, the justice is really damaged", underlines Barbara, lawyer, auditor of Europe 1. With this appointment, she hopes for more listening between the government and justice officials.