French MPs Unanimously Pass Bill Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
France’s National Assembly has approved a wide-ranging bill against sexual and gender-based violence, with 503 deputies voting in favour and none against. The legislation was sponsored by eight political groups spanning much of the chamber, from the Communists to the conservative Les Républicains, giving it unusually broad cross-party backing.
Deputies from La France Insoumise abstained, however, objecting in particular to the removal of provisions intended to protect foreign women. Their abstention highlights a significant dispute within the otherwise overwhelming parliamentary consensus and leaves questions about which groups will ultimately benefit from the legislation.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where supporters fear its central advances could be weakened by the more conservative chamber. The government says it will safeguard the legislation’s ambition during the next stage, but the final scope of the measures will depend on the Senate’s changes and the subsequent legislative process.
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