France's parliament has passed a law introducing life imprisonment for serial rapists of minors, according to infohub.kz.
The bill was approved by 378 lawmakers, with 7 voting against. Originally focused on child welfare reform, it was redirected to combat pedophilia following high-profile crimes.
An amendment imposing life sentences for serial rapes of children under 15 was supported by 258 deputies, while 84 opposed it. The decision came after heated debates in the National Assembly.
On Friday, left-wing groups, which had a stronger presence in the chamber, rejected the measure by a narrow margin, calling it a repressive gesture designed to mask insufficient funding for investigations and prevention.
Opponents labeled the amendment "populism in criminal law," arguing that harsher penalties do not reduce crime. They also questioned its legal basis and demanded increased funding for the judiciary, victim protection, and recidivism prevention.
However, Equality Minister Orora Berzhe, who championed the initiative, secured a second vote, which took place today.
The final version includes a provision eliminating the statute of limitations for crimes against minors—previously applied only to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, the law requires investigators to interrogate suspects in such cases within three months.