France punishes attacks on politicians and mayors with strict escalation in Haiti: Britain promises aid

In view of the increasing hate campaigns and attacks on mayors and other politicians in France, the government has decided to impose stricter penalties and more protection for civil servants. The Senate in Paris voted unanimously on Thursday to increase the maximum penalty from five to seven years in prison and to increase the fines from 75,000 to 100,000 euros. In the future, attacks on politicians could be punished as severely as attacks on police officers and firefighters. For publicly insulting and defaming politicians or state institutions, perpetrators can now be sentenced to community service. In particular, hate speech on the internet and other forms of intimidation should be severely punished.

In the event of acts of violence and threats against mayors and council representatives, the state will in the future also offer legal protection to those affected in places with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. In 2022, reports and reports of verbal and physical violence by public officials in France increased by 32 percent to 2,265 cases compared to the previous year, the Senate said. Attacks on the mayor of the small municipality of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins over the relocation of housing for asylum seekers caused particular outrage. The town hall boss resigned in May last year after unknown people set his house and cars on fire. (sda/dpa)