French MPs pass sweeping bill to combat sexual and gender-based violence

The National Assembly overwhelmingly passed the so-called “comprehensive” bill against sexist and sexual violence on Tuesday. The focus now shifts to the more conservative Senate, with the bill’s supporters fearing that its main advances could be watered down, even though the government insists it will act as guarantor of the bill’s ambition. Sponsored in the Assembly by eight political groups, from the Communists to Les Républicains (LR), the text was adopted by 503 votes to 0. Only the LFI (La France Insoumise) deputies abstained, denouncing in particular the removal of measures aimed at pro