"There is unease in the judiciary. There is a trust in justice which is eroding", observed the Prime Minister, admitting that "for all this, the state is responsible", for lack of paid "the attention to the public service of justice that it deserves".

For nearly two and a half hours at the University of Toulouse, as part of the Estates General of Justice wanted by Emmanuel Macron, Mr. Castex and the Keeper of the Seals Eric Dupond-Moretti played the question-and-answer game, the day after a great day of "mobilization for justice" which precipitated hundreds of magistrates, lawyers and clerks into the street.

In this flammable social context, the Prime Minister and his Minister of Justice have mainly tried to highlight their results, relying mainly on the two successive increases of 8% of the justice budget, in 2021 and 2022.

"I have never disputed the lack of resources. But we must look at what we had, what we have done, and what we are going to do," hammered Mr. Dupond-Moretti, in front of nearly 200 people.

Prime Minister Jean Castex speaks during a debate at the University of Toulouse on December 16, 2021, alongside Eric-Dupond-Moretti (d) Lionel BONAVENTURE AFP

Taking up a 2018 study by the Council of Europe placing France 39th out of 42 countries, in terms of per capita resources devoted to justice, Mr. Castex called for not to "pretend to be surprised at the consequences of this situation".

"But I want to repeat my determination to continue what we have started. Because we are in a period where, who knows, promises could flourish. However, they only engage those who believe them," he said. -it belongs.

During this debate, the head of government, who would like to make justice one of the markers of his tenure in Matignon, was arrested by a victim of domestic violence, a representative of a social landlord, law students, the presidents of the courts of Montauban and Foix, or a mayor.

To the latter, who raised the subject of attacks on elected officials, Mr. Dupond-Moretti replied that he would be "in favor" of the Association of Mayors of France being able to become a civil party in these cases, like the recently called for AMF President David Lisnard.

© 2021 AFP