French Parliament Abolishes Code Noir Amidst European Heatwave and Geopolitical Tensions
As May 2026 concludes, French lawmakers have unanimously passed legislation to erase the Code Noir from the statute book, a move that stands in stark contrast to the week’s turbulent events, including a Blue Origin rocket failure and cross-border drone incidents.
French lawmakers have unanimously passed a bill abolishing the Code Noir and laws related to slavery, marking a significant legislative milestone in the country’s domestic policy landscape. The vote, which took place on May 28, 2026, saw Steevy Gustave of the Ecologist and Social Party and Max Mathiasin of the Liot group embrace following the passage of the measure, signalling broad cross-party consensus on the issue.
The legislative action occurred against a backdrop of extreme weather conditions that swept across Europe. In May 2026, the continent experienced a record-breaking early heatwave, with temperatures shattering monthly records. Images from Paris on May 26 showed teenagers cooling off in the Canal Saint-Martin as the city grappled with the intense heat.
Concurrently, security concerns remained high in neighbouring regions. Romanian authorities investigated a residential explosion in Galati on May 29, attributing the incident to a drone strike near the Ukrainian border. Further south, rescue workers searched for survivors in Sidon, Lebanon, on May 28 following an Israeli air strike that destroyed an apartment building.
In the realm of international sport, Paris Saint-Germain secured their second consecutive Champions League title by defeating Arsenal in Budapest on Saturday, May 30. PSG head coach Luis Enrique celebrated the victory, while French tennis player Moïse Kouamé advanced in the second round of the French Open at Roland-Garros on May 28.
Meanwhile, in the aerospace sector, Blue Origin faced a setback when its unmanned New Glenn rocket exploded during a test launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 28. The incident, captured in video footage released to the public, highlighted the ongoing risks associated with space exploration infrastructure.
