François Pillet

An academic critique of Constitutional Council candidate hearings cited François Pillet, who had acknowledged at his hearing that he could not guarantee 'currently fully informed' expertise in constitutional law, as an example of the weakness of parliamentary scrutiny of appointments.

State of the evidence

Documented

As Senate rapporteur for the Sapin II law, Pillet proposed a regulated definition of a whistleblower and maintaining liability in cases of bad faith or false reporting. Critics portrayed the Senate version as restricting whistleblower protection.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

With Thani Mohamed Soilihi, Pillet co-authored a report proposing to adapt the 1881 law to the internet, notably regarding limitation periods and procedures applying to press offences. Several newsrooms and a Le Monde editorial denounced certain changes as a threat to the historic balance protecting press freedom.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Directly implicated

During debates on opening marriage to same-sex couples, François Pillet defended an alternative solution: an 'alliance' for same-sex couples, with marriage remaining reserved for opposite-sex couples, while maintaining that he wished to ensure equivalent rights.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated