Paris – 06/08/2026: Andréa Kotarac, spokesperson for the Rassemblement National, emphasized in an interview with Franceinfo the urgent need to strengthen child protection in France. The occasion was the tragic case of eleven-year-old Lyhanna, who was murdered in May 2026 in the Gers department. Kotarac stated that society has a serious problem with pedophilia and that the judiciary must prioritize the protection of young children.
The case of Lyhanna has caused outrage in France. The young student disappeared on May 29, 2026, after school and was later found dead. The 41-year-old Jérôme B., who was the last person seen with her, was arrested as the main suspect and charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. It also became known that there had been a complaint against him in August 2025 for sexual abuse of a ten-year-old girl. However, this complaint was only forwarded by the responsible prosecutor in Toulouse to the prosecution in Auch in December 2025, which led to criticism of the investigative authorities.
Kotarac criticized the delays in handling such cases and called for a faster response from the judiciary. He stressed that child protection must be the highest priority to prevent such tragedies in the future. His statements highlight the existing challenges in dealing with cases of sexual abuse and the need to improve the efficiency of judicial authorities.
The prosecution in Auch has meanwhile launched an investigation to examine possible misconduct by the investigative authorities. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin have announced the formation of an administrative investigation commission, led by the General Inspectorate of Justice and the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie. The goal is to identify any dysfunctions within the authorities and take appropriate measures.
In the municipality of Fleurance, where Lyhanna lived, a memorial event was held to commemorate the deceased student and raise awareness of the importance of child protection. The local population expressed shock over the events and called for increased prevention and faster responses from authorities in similar cases.
The discussion around the Lyhanna case has sparked a wide public debate on how cases of sexual abuse are handled and the efficiency of the judicial authorities. Experts emphasize the need to review existing structures and, if necessary, reform them to better ensure the protection of children.
The events surrounding the Lyhanna case raise fundamental questions about the functioning of the judiciary and investigative authorities. It remains to be seen which concrete measures will be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future and to restore public trust in the judiciary.
Sources
- Franceinfo