Philippe Bas

During the constitutional protection of abortion, Philippe Bas defended an amendment removing the term 'guaranteed', which he considered ambiguous in the expression 'guaranteed freedom'. The amendment was rejected, and opponents maintained that the word strengthened effective protection of access to abortion.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

As rapporteur for the constitutional amendment concerning New Caledonia's electoral roll, Bas proposed accepting the principle of unfreezing it subject to conditions, even though his mission expressly noted the lack of local consensus and the government's failure to consult Parliament beforehand.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

Under Philippe Bas's chairmanship, the Senate Law Committee exercised investigative powers in the Benalla affair. Its work triggered a political conflict with the executive over the scope of parliamentary scrutiny and the separation of powers.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

As chairman of the Law Committee, Philippe Bas supported a substantial rewriting of the asylum and immigration bill, considering the government's text insufficient and advocating a 'firmer and more realistic' counterproposal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In March 2017, Philippe Bas co-signed a letter with several LR officials to the Paris public prosecutor and the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), requesting examination of alleged offences arising from the book 'Bienvenue Place Beauvau', against the backdrop of François Fillon's accusation that the Élysée maintained a 'black cabinet'. His opponents presented the initiative as a judicial diversion in the Fillon campaign.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Bas was rapporteur for the proposed 'Protection of the Nation' constitutional amendment, debated following the 2015 attacks and marked by controversy over incorporating the state of emergency into the Constitution and deprivation of nationality.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Philippe Bas was rapporteur in the Senate and subsequently in the joint parliamentary committee for the intelligence bill. The legislation, which expanded and legalised several surveillance techniques, prompted major controversy over fundamental freedoms and the risk of mass surveillance.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the July 2015 ruling striking down the international surveillance framework, Bas introduced a bill and subsequently acted as rapporteur for the new scheme governing international electronic communications. Civil liberties organisations continued to denounce the system as highly intrusive.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated