Climate Justice Protests Highlight Environmental Policy Challenges in France

More than two and a half years after the March 2023 protest against mega-reservoirs in Sainte-Soline, western France, legal proceedings concerning injuries sustained during the event remain stalled. Footage released by Mediapart and Liberation on November 5 revealed gendarmes firing direct shots from grenade launchers at protesters.

Following the release of this footage, the prosecutor's office in Rennes announced that several members of parliament had notified it of possible offenses revealed by the videos. However, the office stated that a decision on public prosecution, for which no option is currently favored, will be made soon, citing the complexity of the case.

Nearly a month later, the prosecutor's office has yet to announce its decision, leading to frustration among advocates for justice. Judith Allenbach, president of the Syndicat de la magistrature, France's left-wing judges' union, expressed astonishment at the prosecutor's justification for not opening a judicial investigation, emphasizing that complexity should prompt the appointment of an investigating judge.

She stated that this situation reflects a justice system failing to meet societal expectations.