Presidential election 2027: Édouard Philippe wants to “ban” magistrates the right to unionize

Édouard Philippe proposed Thursday that magistrates no longer have the right to unionize, a proposal similar to those defended by Bruno Retailleau (LR) or the National Rally, wishing to restrict this possibility. “We who love public services must be demanding of magistrates. And there is an obligation to which magistrates are bound, which is to be impartial,” underlined the presidential candidate from Horizons on franceinfo, during a day devoted by this media to public services.

“This is the reason why I consider that we must prohibit the possibility of unionizing in the judiciary”, as in the armies, “for reasons linked to command and obedience”, added the pretender at the Élysée. Édouard Philippe also suggests recruiting magistrates “otherwise” than through the National School of Magistracy, to “diversify careers and profiles”.

Retailleau no longer wants intervention “in the political debate”

The Republican candidate Bruno Retailleau, for his part, intends to “replace the current union regime with a regime of professional associations”, which “would continue to defend the material and professional interests of magistrates”, but “would no longer be intended to intervene in the political debate nor to take a public position on the government's choices”.

To do this, he plans to revise the Constitution, given that the status of magistrates “comes under the organic law and that an organic law which would restrict the right to organize would be censored by the Constitutional Council,” he detailed in the JDD. The president of the RN Jordan Bardella wanted in June to “prohibit the political positions taken by unions” of magistrates, like the military who have “no right to express positions”. “The judge is the mouth of the law” and “the law must be impartial,” he argued on BFMTV, suggesting a “duty of reserve” for magistrates.