Eileen Servidio-Delabre invited by France 24 to explain the reform of the French judicial system

Following the recent judgement in the Clearstream case which cleared former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin from his involvement in trying to smear his then rival in the upcoming Presidential campaign - now French President - Nicolas Sarkozy, Dr. Eileen Servidio-Delabre was invited on France 24 on February 4 to discuss the reform project of the French judicial system introduced a few months ago. The appeal of this decision by the prosecuting judge seems to have given new vigour to the critics of this project.

Dr. Servidio-Delabre explained and analysed the current French judicial system as well as the main points in the reform project, and the reason for the controversy around it. The focus was on the proposed suppression the French equivalent of US prosecuting attorneys, which in French are called investigating judges ("juges d'instruction").

Dr. Servidio-Delabre explained how in the current system they are independent from the Ministry of Justice and are able to carry out investigation and bring charges without bias or fear of political interference, and how the reform project may jeopardize that independence as many opponents to the reform argue.

View France 24's show "Focus": What Future For France's Investigating Judges"