An acute political crisis has emerged in France over the murder of 11-year-old girl Lianne, which has sparked a wave of protests across the country. The Minister of Justice acknowledged the failures of the judicial system in investigating cases of child sexual abuse. The Prime Minister held a crisis meeting to strengthen legislation and protect minors.
- The murder of 11-year-old Lianne sparked large-scale protests in France.
- The Minister of Justice acknowledged serious failures in the judicial system.
- The Prime Minister called for increased protection of children and punishment for sexual offences.
- Prosecutors complain of a lack of resources and an overload of cases.
- The government ordered a review of 70,000 cases of violence against minors.
Lianni's murder as a trigger for a political crisis
An 11-year-old girl named Lianna disappeared on 29 May in the town of Flérance after school. Later, it was reported that she had been killed, which sparked large-scale protests in various cities in France. Prosecutors from the city of Auch, where the case is being considered, reported that the main suspect had previously been involved in a case of rape of a minor, but was only questioned after his arrest in the Lianne case.
Judiciary under pressure and criticism
Prosecutors and legal professionals report a lack of resources and staff attrition. A focus on drug and domestic violence diverts attention from child sexual abuse cases. Legal clerk and trade union representative Cyril Papon noted that the courts are overloaded, and there could be more cases like this.
Recognition of failures and government response
Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin acknowledged the «terrible failures» of the state and the judiciary, but refused to resign. He ordered an investigation into the Lianni case, the results of which are expected by mid-June. Prime Minister. Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting to call for tougher child protection legislation, stricter penalties for repeat offenders and better information for victims.
The scale of the problem of child sexual abuse in France
Last year, the police recorded more than 75,000 minors who were victims of sexual violence, which is 5% more than the previous year. Activists and human rights organisations estimate the actual number of victims at 160,000 children annually. Lack of resources and delays in processing cases leave minors at risk.
Criticism of government measures and demands for systemic change
Deputy David Topiak, who warned about staffing problems in the Osh prosecutor's office back in 2025, stressed that the authorities' response was too focused on finding the perpetrators rather than on systemic changes. The lawyer for Lianni's parents stressed that without additional resources, the tragedy could have been prevented. Darmanin ordered prosecutors to check approximately 70,000 cases of child abuse by 14 July, but experts believe this task is too ambitious without reducing the quality of work.
