France's unanimous adoption of a draft law facilitating the restitution of cultural property looted during the colonial era represents a "rare political consensus", lawmaker Jeremie Patrier-Leitus said, noting that the issue also concerns China, particularly the looting of the Old Summer Palace.
The French National Assembly passed the draft law with 170 votes in favor and none against on Monday. Those covered in the bill are artworks and artifacts "illicitly acquired" between 1815 and 1972 through theft, looting, transfers or gifts obtained by force, violence, or from someone without the right to dispose of them.
The bill, aiming to simplify the procedures of restitution in France, will now be examined by a joint committee to harmonize the position between senators and deputies.
"The initiative for this law comes from the government. It is a policy that was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, as early as 2017, which the various Ministers of Culture have subsequently carried forward. More recently, it was Catherine Pegard, the new Culture Minister, who brought this law to the National Assembly," Patrier-Leitus said.
The lawmaker points out that France has been committed for years to the restitution of ill-gotten gains, which explains the consensus around this law.
"This is an approach that France has been pursuing for many years: to be able to return goods that were wrongfully acquired, goods that are kept in French public collections, mainly in national and regional museums, and which are identified museum by museum. This is an important issue, and that is why this law has garnered consensus," he said.
"When you look at the French National Assembly, which is very fractured and polarized, it's surprising that a bill can garner such unanimous support and be passed by all members of Parliament, regardless of their political party. There are several reasons for this unanimity. First, because there was a solid political foundation: it was an initiative of the president. It was championed by the government and developed over several years with the members of Parliament. And so, because there were numerous discussions between the National Assembly, the Senate, and the government, among French political leaders, we were able to work towards a consensus and compromises. Today, even if there are fundamental disagreements, there has been unanimity, a consensus, on this bill, and I am delighted about that. It is also proof that in the National Assembly, we can work hand in hand beyond our political divides," he noted.
Patrier-Leitus highlighted the looting of the Old Summer Palace as a reminder that the issue of restitution does not only concern Africa, but also Asia.
"What is important, and this is why I wanted to refer to China in my speech, is to recall the looting, particularly that of the Old Summer Palace. This is important because the issue of restitution does not simply concern the African colonial context, it does not simply concern Africa. It concerns all situations of illicit appropriation, including Asia, and especially China," he said.
French lawmaker hails "rare political consensus" on draft law for return of looted cultural property
