MEPs voted in favour of life imprisonment for serial rapes of children under 15

French lawmakers have approved a new law extending life imprisonment for perpetrators of serial sexual assaults on children under 15 years old, following intense parliamentary debate. The measure was passed with 258 votes in favor and 84 against during a second round of voting, marking a decisive legislative shift in response to public outrage over high-profile cases of child sexual abuse. The legislation comes in the wake of the Lyhanna case, which sparked nationwide condemnation and renewed calls for stricter penalties against predators targeting minors. The bill, introduced by the government, aims to ensure that individuals convicted of multiple sexual offenses against children below the age of 15 face permanent incarceration. This follows a previous rejection of the measure by leftist factions during a Friday session, who argued that the proposal masked systemic failures in investigative resources and prevention efforts. During Tuesday’s proceedings, tensions remained high as lawmakers debated the implications of the law. Marianne Maximi, a co-reporter from the Left Front (LFI), condemned attacks on her social media accounts and allegations that left-wing groups supported pedophilia. She accused far-right representatives of hypocrisy, pointing out that they continued to support figures like Jean-Marc Morandini and Gérard Depardieu despite their controversial stances. “Who continues to appear on the shows of Jean-Marc Morandini? It's you!” she challenged, directing her remarks toward the extreme right. In response, members of the National Rally (RN) defended the principle of proportionality in sentencing, arguing that the law does not reflect demands from victim advocacy groups but rather serves to prevent excessive legal measures. They claimed that some organizations had used the issue as a smokescreen to divert attention from broader concerns about justice system inefficiencies. Socialist representative Florence Hérouin-Léautey criticized the proposed law as another risky maneuver that could lead to constitutional challenges. She emphasized the need for additional resources to protect victims and reduce impunity, noting that only 3 percent of perpetrators in sexual violence cases are convicted, and this drops to 1 percent in incest cases. Her comments were met with sharp rebuttals from members of the National Rally, who labeled her a collaborator and called for disciplinary action. The exchange escalated into heated confrontations between members of the Left Front and the National Rally, with Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet intervening to call for decorum. “Are you not ashamed of what you're doing right now, from both sides?” she asked, urging lawmakers to uphold the dignity of the institution and meet public expectations. Supporters of the law rejected claims of excessive punishment, insisting that the measure targets the most serious crimes. Émilie Bonnivard of the Republicans (LR) stated, “For us, it's about punishing what we consider the gravest offense.” Meanwhile, RN deputy Sophie Blanc countered that while the left prioritizes rehabilitating offenders, the right focuses on ensuring that no child encounters a predator again. As the legislative process concludes, the new law will likely face further scrutiny, including potential legal challenges. Advocacy groups remain divided, with some supporting the tougher stance and others warning of unintended consequences. The outcome of these debates will shape how France addresses the complex challenge of protecting its youngest citizens from sexual exploitation.