Didier Migaud promises to make justice a "priority" despite the deteriorating state of public finances
During his first trip as Minister of Justice to Dijon, Didier Migaud affirmed that justice would "always remain a priority" of the government, despite a more deteriorated public finance context than expected. Indeed, his predecessor, Éric Dupond-Moretti, had urged Migaud to preserve the historical resources granted to justice, already enshrined in a law adopted last autumn.
A historic budget to defend despite budgetary constraints
Didier Migaud was keen to reiterate this commitment, while acknowledging the current financial difficulties. During the swearing-in of students from the National School of Court Clerks in Dijon, he stressed the importance of finding solutions to maintain the investments necessary for the proper functioning of justice services. "You can count on me to defend the interests of this ministry," he declared, while being more cautious during a press conference, indicating that he "hoped" that the budgetary commitments would be kept.
Éric Dupond-Moretti had announced a significant increase in the justice budget, from 7,6 billion euros in 2020 to nearly 11 billion by 2027. These funds are intended to recruit 1 additional magistrates, 500 clerks and 1 contract workers, as well as to continue the construction of 800 new prison places. For Didier Migaud, it is "essential" to respect this law, because he believes that "justice has often been considered a poor relation" and that a significant effort has already been undertaken, which must now be extended.
A debate on the vision of justice: between progressivism and firmness
Didier Migaud, Dupond-Moretti's successor since September 23, is in line with the great figures of the judicial left, such as Robert Badinter, Christiane Taubira and Nicole Belloubet. This affiliation marks his commitment to a "progressive" justice system, which favors the rehabilitation of convicts, unlike the "punitive" concept, generally supported by the right, which relies on deterrence through punishment.
Justice ministers from the left have often been divisive figures, such as Robert Badinter, appointed in 1981, who defended the abolition of the death penalty despite the majority opposition of the population. His closeness to the Syndicat de la magistrature, an association committed to a progressive vision of justice, marked his term, as it did that of Christiane Taubira later.
Conversely, the right has chosen moderate figures and has been hesitant between firm measures, such as minimum sentences, and more progressive approaches, such as automatic sentence adjustments. This duality persists today, as Didier Migaud has alluded to his differences with the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who advocates greater firmness in matters of justice. "Justice is severe," Migaud said, specifying that he wanted to "explain" this reality to citizens in order to dispel misunderstandings.
The population's expectations: firm measures for greater security
The tensions between these two visions of justice – progressive and punitive – are also reflected in citizens’ expectations. Polls show that the majority of French people are calling for stricter measures, such as the return of minimum sentences, the limitation of sentence adjustments, or the systematic expulsion of foreign offenders. The people seem to be positioning themselves in favor of a justice system that prioritizes the security and protection of citizens.
The challenge for Didier Migaud will be to respond to this popular demand while remaining faithful to a progressive approach. This involves a delicate balance between the firmness needed to guarantee public safety and the desire for reintegration, at the heart of the doctrine he defends. The coming months will be crucial to see whether the new Minister of Justice will succeed in reconciling these two demands within French judicial policy.