Rassemblement National denies plans to reinstate the death penalty

Paris – 25.06.2026: Vice President of the Rassemblement National (RN), Sébastien Chenu, rejected speculation about the reinstatement of the death penalty in France. The discussions were prompted by controversial statements made by RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli, who stated in a theoretical context that his party could support the will of the people to reinstate the death penalty in a referendum.

Chenu clearly stated that the return of the death penalty is not enshrined in the party program. Instead, the RN supports life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as the harshest punishment. This position also corresponds to that of party leader Marine Le Pen, who emphasized as early as 2022 that reinstating the death penalty is unconstitutional and therefore ruled out.

The statements by spokesperson Jacobelli in recent days caused confusion both within and outside the political sphere. In an interview, he hypothetically stated that if a referendum were held in favor of reinstating the death penalty, his party would recognize its results. These remarks were met with sharp criticism, as the death penalty has been abolished in France since 1981 and is prohibited by the constitution.

Sébastien Chenu firmly rejected this speculation and made it clear that the RN’s position remains abolitionist, meaning opposed to the death penalty. Instead, the party advocates strict criminal prosecution with the harshest punishment permitted by French law: life imprisonment without the possibility of early release. This punishment has long been regarded as an alternative to the death penalty, which has not been applied in France for decades.

The debate surrounding the death penalty gained momentum after Jacobelli expressed himself in the media in a way that was perceived as a nod to populist demands. However, the RN’s official position shows that no constitutional reform or reinstatement of the death penalty is currently planned. Politically, the abolition of the death penalty remains a shared consensus in France, regardless of party affiliation.

The position of the Rassemblement National is particularly relevant in the context of French judicial and domestic policy, as the party has long advocated a tough line on security issues. Vice President Chenu’s clarification is intended to prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations in public debate in the future. The RN thus emphasizes that, despite the mistakes of individual members, it adheres to the rejection of the death penalty and does not plan to reinstate it.

This current interpretation should also be understood in the context that the death penalty is generally regarded as a violation of human rights in many Western countries. France was one of the first European countries to abolish the death penalty and is a member of international agreements prohibiting its use. Sébastien Chenu’s statement confirms France’s general line on this issue and brings clarity to the political landscape.