Judicial and Political Responses Intensify Following Sainte-Soline Police Violence Revelations
In response to videos revealing police violence at Sainte-Soline protests, a judicial inquiry and political complaints intensify scrutiny over law enforcement accountability in France.
- • Seven parliamentarians and one MEP filed a complaint with the Rennes prosecutor’s office regarding police violence at Sainte-Soline.
- • The Rennes prosecutor’s office is conducting an in-depth investigation but has not yet appointed a judge.
- • Videos show gendarmes making derogatory remarks and using prohibited methods such as firing tear gas directly at protesters.
- • LFI proposed a parliamentary inquiry into police conduct during the protest.
- • Experts cite systemic failures in police oversight highlighted by these events alongside other notable cases like Michel Zecler.
Key details
Following the protests at Sainte-Soline on March 25, 2023, where thousands demonstrated against the creation of a megabasin and four people were seriously injured, the case of police violence continues to provoke strong judicial and political reactions in France. The Rennes prosecutor’s office, which holds military jurisdiction over the region, is conducting an in-depth analysis of the violence allegations and the police's crowd-control methods, although it has yet to assign a judge despite demands from plaintiffs.
Seven parliamentarians and one European Parliament member have filed a complaint under Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the aggressive police tactics employed during the protest. Their complaint was spurred by videos showing gendarmes making derogatory remarks about protesters and executing apparently prohibited acts, such as firing tear gas and explosive grenades directly at individuals, reportedly under orders from their superiors. The parliamentary group La France Insoumise (LFI) pushed for the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into the police's conduct during the protest, highlighting the disturbing nature of the footage.
The complaint and ongoing investigation have attracted criticism. Me Chloé Chalot, representing injured protesters, described the prosecutor's handling of the case as lacking respect for victims. Meanwhile, the Inspectorate General of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN) has launched an administrative inquiry into how the injured were treated post-protest. The Syndicat de la magistrature, a magistrates’ union, has also censured the judicial process, citing significant deficiencies.
Expert Sebastian Roché, a European police systems specialist, has publicly commented on the case, framing it within broader systemic failures in police oversight across France. This case coincides with other incidents — such as the Michel Zecler affair — which have intensified scrutiny over law enforcement accountability in the country.
Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez, however, has been contradicted by video evidence by denying that police hierarchy was aware of the videos depicting misconduct. The Rennes prosecutor’s office has emphasized the complexity of the investigation given the detailed evidence and multiple parties involved, underscoring that a public action decision will be reached shortly.
The unfolding judicial inquiries alongside mounting political pressure reveal a heated national debate on police violence and accountability, with significant implications for the oversight of law enforcement in France.