Bill passes with unanimous support

On Tuesday, October 13, deputies voted unanimously to adopt a bill aimed at combating sexual and sexist violence against women and children. The measure, titled "providing a comprehensive response to the phenomenon of sexual and sexist violence against women and children," received 503 votes in favor, zero against, and 67 abstentions.

Legislative timeline set

The minister in charge of Relations with Parliament, Laurent Panifous, announced that the bill will be reviewed by the Senate in January. The goal is for the law to be finalized by the end of February, when the parliamentary session will pause due to the presidential election campaign.

Normal legislative process

Typically, a bill undergoes two readings in both the National Assembly and the Senate before entering a reconciliation phase. A joint committee, known as the CMP, consisting of seven deputies and seven senators, works to create a compromise version of the bill.

Accelerated procedure initiated

Because of the planned end of the parliamentary session in February, the government has opted for an accelerated process under article 45 of the Constitution. This allows for a single reading in each chamber before the CMP is formed, potentially speeding up the final approval of the law.

Constitutional steps ahead

If the bill is approved by both chambers, it will be sent to the President of the Republic for promulgation within 15 days. However, if the Constitutional Council is consulted, it will have one month to review the law before the president can officially adopt it and publish it in the Official Journal.

Senate debate to begin in 2027

The bill will be discussed in the Senate starting in early 2027. During the six days of debate in the National Assembly, the Insoumis group chose to abstain, but the text remained largely unchanged.