Édouard Philippe backs Darmanin and proposes reversing 2013 prosecutor independence law after Lyhanna case
In an interview with Le Parisien, the presidential candidate called the 11-year-old's death a collective failure and proposed reversing the 2013 ban on individual instructions from the justice minister to prosecutors.
A collective failure
Édouard Philippe, the former prime minister and candidate in the 2027 presidential election, gave an interview to Le Parisien on Saturday, June 13, in which he addressed the death of Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl whose body was found in the Gers department last week. Philippe described the case as "un échec collectif" and said it stemmed from "graves dysfonctionnements au sein de la justice et de la gendarmerie." He offered his full support to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who has been under pressure because of the affair.
Le parquet met en oeuvre la politique pénale, qui est une politique publique, and must remain under the authority of the garde des Sceaux.
Ministerial instructions to prosecutors
The core of Philippe's proposal is a return to a system in which the justice minister can give individual instructions to prosecutors, a practice banned since 2013 by a law introduced by former minister Christiane Taubira to prevent political interference in criminal cases. Philippe argued that the minister "should be able to give individual instructions" and that reversing the Taubira law is necessary to ensure the prosecution service implements public criminal policy. The suggestion immediately revived a long-running French debate over the independence of the judiciary.
New protective measures around children
Philippe advanced several other measures. He said every complaint lodged with the police should trigger an immediate evaluation and, if necessary, protective steps. He also stated that when a risk is identified, it should not be the child who is moved but the suspected adult. "Quand il y a un risque, ce ne soit pas à l'enfant de partir mais à l'adulte soupçonné," he told Le Parisien. He further endorsed the idea that crimes against minors should become imprescriptible, a position already supported by his rival Gabriel Attal, the candidate from the presidential majority.
Quand il y a un risque, ce ne soit pas à l'enfant de partir mais à l'adulte soupçonné.
Transparency for parents and justice resources
Philippe also suggested opening a debate on whether parents should be able to ask the police whether an adult in contact with their child has a criminal record, citing a British law introduced after a high-profile abduction and murder. On judicial resources, he said the justice system should continue to receive increased funding, "au même rythme qu'aujourd'hui, voire plus." The main suspect in Lyhanna's death, Jérôme Barella, had been the subject of earlier complaints for rape of minors that were later closed, fuelling public anger over systemic lapses.
L'important reste l'éducation des enfants, la formation des adultes qui les accompagnent.
Political calendar
Philippe's intervention comes at a sensitive moment for Gérald Darmanin, whose ministry is under scrutiny for the failings that led to the girl's death. The former prime minister, who is building his Horizons party towards the 2027 contest, used the interview to align himself with Darmanin while marking out distinct policy ground, especially on the relationship between politicians and prosecutors.
