Has an LFI MP was hampered by wanting to visit Gérald Darmanin’s high security prison?

POLICY – ” Democratic scandal », « We will attack the court »… The rebellious troops saw red this Wednesday, July 23 after a member of their group visited the Prison of Vendin-le-Vieil in Pas-de-Calais. The establishment welcomes one of the new high security districts desired by the Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, and where 17 drug traffickers have been imprisoned.

The LFI deputy of Haute-Garonne, Hadrien Clouet wanted to go there in the morning to visit the establishment as authorized by the law. On site, he nevertheless assures, his right of visit was “Hoped”on the basis of a ” ministerial note » et « at the request of Darmanin’s office ».

« Total prohibition of access for journalists [qui l’accompagnaient, ndlr]obligation to leave my phone to prevent images on my side (including by removing the SIM card) “, He deplores on the social network X, accusing in passing the Keeper of the Seals of wanting” hide »Things. In the process, the rebellious movement has also split a promising press release to use “ All the levers available “, And to alert the President of the Republic. And to scathing: ” By limiting the gaze of elected officials and prohibiting that of journalists, The government installs an undocumented area ».

In fact, the law ensures any parliamentarian a right to visit places of deprivation of freedom. Nevertheless, there are also some rules, specifies the prison administration which defends itself from any obstacle to the HuffPost : « Access of parliamentarians in the new high security prison has not been prohibited or limited. This morning, the parliamentarian could visit the premises for more than three hours ”. What Hadrian Clouet confirms, greeting in passing “Teams anxious to present their establishment ».

Transfers of very heavy detainees, defends the administration

The administration specifies, however, that in the current context of ” loading “And above all” Transfers of prisoners among the most dangerous in our country, a transfer itself covered by the Secret-Defense “, The head of the school can refuse access to journalists. And rely on article R.132-1 of the prison code for this. The text specifies that the head of the establishment can refuse access to journalists for imperative reasons linked to security or good order.

Regarding the telephone, the visit guide released by the International Prisons Observatory stipulates that the deputy – but not those who accompany him – can penetrate with his phone. The administration insists on article R. 345-11 of the penitentiary code which prohibits the phone to any person entering an establishment of its kind.

« Given the objectives pursued by the new high security prisons, this prohibition is applied strictly, and also concerns parliamentarians exercising their visit right “, Even specifies the prison administration at HuffPost. Another judicial source is also annoyed “ Lack of common sense »Insoumis and controversy, while” two penitentiary agents died During the transfer of Mohammed Amra in May 2024.

The High Security district of Vendin-le-Vieil should accommodate by the end of July around sixty prisoners in total. Launched drum beating by a Gérald Darmanin hosted by the idea of unclogging prisons, attacking drug trafficking, but also to mark his passage Place Vendôme, the new device nevertheless questions elected officials of oppositions and lawyers. The defenders of the first 17 detainees transferred denounced to BFMTV, the conditions of detention in which their customers will be imprisoned: “ A shame for the Republic ». Among these conditions, no physical contact, displacement and repeated excavations, sponsorship only with a hygiaphone. The magistracy union also denounced a ” procedure for selecting transferable detainees which allows only a fictitious exercise in defense rights ».