The Minister of Justice of France, Éric Dupond-Moretti, does not hide his ambitions: he wants to “reshape in depth” his country’s judiciary. And one way to do that, he advocates, is to draw inspiration from Quebec, which leads him to meetings with various stakeholders in Quebec’s justice system this week.
Posted at 5:00 am
Hugo Pilon-Larose The press
La Presse met him Thursday in a conference room at the Collège international Marie de France in Montreal. The minister had just spent the day at the Court of Appeal, where he met his counterpart in the Legault government, Simon Jolin-Barrette. The two politicians discussed the mechanisms involved in sexual and domestic violence. They also analyzed the way in which Quebec intended to increase the use of out-of-court settlements to relieve the courts.
“I can learn a lot from the procedure that is being introduced in Quebec for civil proceedings,” says Mr. Dupond-Moretti, a professional lawyer who enjoys star status in his field in France. At 61, the one who has President Emmanuel Macron’s ear is a key figure in Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne’s government.
“Éric Dupond-Moretti is quite a character. It doesn’t go unnoticed. He has a physique, he has a carrying voice. It was a bit of the terror of the courts when he was a lawyer. He often took on cases that attracted a lot of attention and his numerous opponents – especially among the judges – criticized him for not being at the top,” explains Professor Jean-Pierre Beaud, an expert in French politics at the University of Quebec in Montréal (UQAM).
That [Éric Dupond-Moretti] wants is more means for justice. He has a little Robin Hood side, but he’s not a Robin Hood living in the woods. He eats well, he must hunt well. He is also very intelligent and has more than one trick up his sleeve.
Jean-Pierre Beaud, expert in French politics and professor at UQAM
involve citizens
During the interview, in which the answers – reasoned – often take on the semblance of pleadings, Éric Dupond-Moretti explains the main lines of the reforms he wants to introduce to the French judicial system.
“We want to set up an amicable dispute resolution. Why ? Because if we attend his trial, we better accept the court decision. Second, we save a lot of time. This time we publish […] can become [être] spend on other things, particularly depleting inventories that have been building up for decades,” he says.
“It is no longer the judge who decides with his empire. [Dans un procès]the one who lost is convinced that he was misjudged,” illustrates Mr. Dupond-Moretti.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Eric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice of France
If you involve him in the court decision […], the patient feels better. This judiciary was attentive. In terms of social bonds, social pact, it is fundamental.
Eric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice of France
The Minister of Justice also says he is concerned about the increase in extremes that, in France as elsewhere, are challenging certain institutions.
“There is a form of populism that is spreading everywhere and undermining institutions. In France, it’s not just the Rallye National [fait] das. It is also the far left, La France insoumise, that advocates civil disobedience. […] However, I think justice is our social pact. It’s imperative that we have faith in that,” he said, throwing Quebec darts at his opponents.
Trust the system
With a hoarse voice and a steady gaze, the French minister assures that he is closely monitoring the pilot projects being carried out in Quebec to create a court specializing in sexual and spousal violence.
“We still have a lot to learn. I say this without false modesty: I think you have to look for good ideas where they are. These good ideas are to be found here,” he says, knowing full well that the Quebec system also has problems with access to justice.
Regarding the French language, Éric Dupond-Moretti says he is sensitive to the often strong criticism leveled in Quebec about the spread of Anglicisms in France. His Quebec counterpart, Simon Jolin-Barrette, also urged the French to fight this trend in a speech at the French Academy last June.
“All countries that feel or foresee a threat to their culture and language are much more vigilant than countries where there is no such threat,” the minister said.
At home, the big folk show isn’t called The Voice. It’s called The Voice. […] But we, as we are unable [comme la vôtre]we sometimes wallow in Anglicisms that wrinkle my ears.
Eric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice of France
But not so far, he specifies, to prepare a French law 101.
This visit by Éric Dupond-Moretti – a regular in Quebec as he is the wife of singer Isabelle Boulay – comes as he is being taken to France before the Court of Justice of the Republic, a court responsible for trying members of the government.
Le Monde explained last October that “the Minister of Justice is accused, a few weeks after his appointment […] appointed to the General Inspectorate of Justice for Administrative Investigations […] against judges with whom he was in opposition as a lawyer”. Éric Dupond-Moretti denies having entered into a conflict of interest in relation to these files. The trial is not expected to take place before the end of 2023.