France Repeals Slavery Laws and Summons Russian Ambassador Amid Record Heatwave
The French government has requested a criminal investigation into Israel regarding Gaza flotilla activists, while meteorological services report unprecedented May temperatures.
France is currently navigating a convergence of significant diplomatic developments and extreme weather conditions. The French meteorological service has declared that the country is enduring an unprecedented heatwave for May, with temperatures breaking records this month. Fabio D’Andrea, a climatologist with the CNRS and head of the geosciences department at the ENS, has provided expert commentary on the causes behind the soaring temperatures.
In a major domestic policy shift, French lawmakers voted on Thursday to formally repeal the “code noir.” This historical legal framework defined the status of enslaved people as “movable property” and justified abuse and corporal punishment. The repeal marks a formal legislative step to remove these slavery-era laws from the national statute book.
On the international stage, France summoned the Russian ambassador on Friday following a drone incident in Romania. A Russian drone crashed into a residential building in the eastern Romanian city of Galati, injuring two people and causing a fire on the 10th floor. The Romanian defence ministry confirmed that the drone’s explosive payload detonated, leading to the evacuation of approximately 70 residents.
The French Foreign Minister condemned the incident, describing it as an “irresponsible escalation.” The event has heightened tensions between Paris and Moscow, particularly given that Romania is a member state of NATO. The drone crash resulted in property damage and required medical treatment for two individuals suffering from abrasions.
Simultaneously, the French government has requested that prosecutors investigate Israel for the alleged violent mistreatment of activists from a flotilla bound for Gaza. This request potentially opens a route for criminal proceedings. The government has already imposed an indefinite ban on Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from French territory, citing his “unspeakable” behaviour toward the activists while they were in Israeli detention.
The outcome of the requested criminal investigation into Israel remains undetermined. Meanwhile, the heatwave warnings issued by the French meteorological service continue to guide public safety measures as temperatures remain at record levels for the month.
