French Deputies Face Growing Competition from Citizen Petitions

The French National Assembly's Law Committee is set to debate a petition against the presumption of self-defense for law enforcement, which has garnered over 700,000 signatures. The petition, launched by Issam El Khalfaoui after his son's death during a police check, reflects a broader trend of citizen petitions challenging parliamentary decisions. Since the success of the mobilization against the Duplomb law, petitions have multiplied, including one against the Yadan bill on anti-Semitism. The right of petition, rooted in revolutionary traditions, was reformed after the 'yellow vests' crisis with digital platforms and identity verification. However, petitions are increasingly used to oppose reforms rather than propose new ideas. Despite obstacles like committee dismissals and low-attendance debates, petitions have influenced outcomes, such as the Constitutional Council's censure of the Duplomb law and the withdrawal of the Yadan bill. The opposition leverages these petitions to gain political momentum.