🏛️ Assembly extends whistleblower protection against drug trafficking

Oneliner

On 12 February 2026, the French National Assembly unanimously passed a bill extending legal protections for whistleblowers involved in drug trafficking. The legislation, introduced by Green MP Sandra Regol, broadens existing protections to include individuals not involved in judicial proceedings. While the bill received support from left-leaning parties, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed concerns about its potential to weaken existing protections. The bill aims to enhance safety measures for those exposing drug-related crimes, amid ongoing violence in the country.

Key points

• The National Assembly unanimously adopted a bill enhancing protections for whistleblowers on 12 February 2026.
• The legislation extends protections to individuals not involved in judicial proceedings, broadening the existing framework.
• Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed concerns about potential risks to existing protections.
• The bill was supported primarily by left-leaning parties, while the governing coalition abstained.

Links

• BFMTV: Narcotrafic, eau potable et menaces d'obstruction... La "niche" des écologistes dans le "cercle vicieux des représailles" à l'Assemblée nationale
• France 24: Narcotrafic: l'Assemblée vote un texte écologiste pour étendre la protection des lanceurs d'alerte
• Libération: L’Assemblée nationale adopte à l’unanimité un texte étendant la protection des lanceurs d’alerte contre le narcotrafic
• 20minutes: Les députés votent un texte pour étendre la protection des lanceurs d'alerte
• Franceinfo: Le texte visant à étendre la protection des lanceurs d'alerte impliqués contre le narcotrafic adopté par l'Assemblée nationale en première lecture

Facts

• The bill was adopted with 123 votes in favor and none against.
• It extends protections to individuals not involved in judicial proceedings.
• Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez raised concerns about the bill's implications.
• The vote took place during a parliamentary session reserved for the Green party.

Quotes

• We can send a message to traffickers, to those who assault, to those who kill, [...] by giving those who speak up and act today without a framework and without protection an appropriate protection so they can continue to do so — Sandra Regol
• Beyond the intention, which is laudable, the state already guarantees protection to anyone who is effectively threatened — Laurent Nuñez

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