Paris (AFP)

Against the backdrop of freeing the voice of victims, the National Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a PS bill sending a "clear ban" to perpetrators of sexual violence against minors, against whom the government wants to toughen the legislation.

This text targeting rape, sexual assault or incest on minors was adopted on first reading as part of a so-called "niche" day, reserved for the socialist group.

In particular, it sets the threshold for non-consent at 15 years, 18 years in the event of incest.

Although in agreement with these protection thresholds, the government plans to reform to go through a bill from the Senate, considered more advanced.

Faced with the proliferation of resounding cases, Emmanuel Macron promised at the end of January "to adapt our law" and to leave "no respite to the aggressors".

It is necessary "to pose a clear and unequivocal prohibition" vis-a-vis these acts, underlined in front of the deputies the Secretary of State for Children and Families Adrien Taquet.

The author of the text Isabelle Santiago underlined the need to "draw the consequences of the shortcomings of our legislation", a finding widely shared in the hemicycle.

Bruno Questel (LREM), who recently revealed to have been a victim of rape at the age of 11, said he was "moved" at the end of the debates, while adding that there was "still work to be done ".

After the implication of the writer Gabriel Matzneff, targeted by an investigation for rape of minors under 15 years old, taboos continued to fall with the story of Camille Kouchner ("La familia grande") where she accuses her beau -father, political scientist Olivier Duhamel, of sexual assault on his twin brother as a teenager.

The mobilization against these acts has also developed on social networks, fueled by multiple denunciations of cases of abuse.

- "Collective dignity" -

In the hemicycle, the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti welcomed this "freedom of speech" which leads to "no longer closing your eyes".

But he also pointed out the need for a "coherent and coordinated" reform, the justice not having to go "neither on the Internet, nor in the media, nor in the street".

He also stressed that it was necessary to repress "unwanted relationships", but not "adolescent love affairs", because "our goal is to guarantee the protection of our children but in no case to set ourselves up as censors of sexual life. of our teenagers! ".

Despite the seriousness of the subject, underlined by everyone at the start, the meeting then took a confused turn due to unexpected votes, upsetting amendments and speeches.

While last week in committee, the deputies had reviewed the PS text from top to bottom, substituting a proposal from Alexandra Louis (LREM), the Assembly returned Thursday to the initial version.

This reestablishment was made possible by an unexpected alliance of right and left oppositions with elected members of the majority, in particular the Modem, against the elected LREM.

In the midst of the heckling, Bruno Questel pleaded for the Assembly to show "collective dignity".

The debates ended in a more peaceful way, before the consensual vote.

On a solemn basis, the debates were also suspended for a moment, due to the emotion caused by the revelation of an anti-Semitic email targeting the president of the Laws Commission Yaël Braun-Pivet, present in session.

However, the PS bill may not go further, some at LREM deeming it ultimately "useless" in the legislative reform process.

Mr. Dupond-Moretti confirmed the government's choice to favor as a "legislative vehicle" the bill of the centrist Senator Annick Billon.

This text has already been adopted unanimously at first reading by the upper house, and the LREM group included it on the Assembly's menu on March 15.

The Minister of Justice considered that the senatorial text allowed a "tight" adoption schedule.

The executive is counting on final adoption by Parliament "by the end of April," said the minister's entourage.

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