The bill criminalizing the denial of genocides will be declared unconstitutional. Jean-Claude Gaudin

The bill criminalizing the denial of genocides is very likely to be declared null and void, according to Jean-Claude Gaudin, the leader of the ruling Union for Popular Movement Party faction in the French parliament.

On January 23, the French Senate voted 127 to 86 to outlaw the denial of all the crimes of genocide recognized by the French Republic (apart from the Armenian Genocide, France has also recognized the Jewish Holocaust, whose denial has been officially criminalized in the country).

Several lawmakers opposing to the bill applied to the French Constitutional Court on January 31, asking it to review the draft's conformity with the country’s basic law.

“I am very much concerned that the bill may be declared unconstitutional. The Court may additionally invalidate the 2001 Law on Recognizing the Armenian Genocide, as well as the law outlawing the genocide of the Jews,” Gaudin said.

A constitutional council is due to hold the hearings over the bill on February 29 or March 29.