French lawmakers pass bill simplifying return of colonial-era art

"The draft legislation to return them was unanimously approved by the lower house National Assembly late on Monday. The upper house had unanimously passed the measure in January."

"Designed to streamline the process, Monday's bill specifically targets property acquired between 1815 and 1972. France has been flooded with restitution demands, including from Algeria, Mali and Benin."

"President Emmanuel Macron has made it a political promise to return the cultural items, and has gone further than his predecessors in admitting past French abuses in Africa."

"The bill has faced political wrangling in France, with the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) arguing that its scope should be extended."

French lawmakers approved a bill to facilitate the return of artworks looted during the colonial era. This legislation aims to streamline the process for returning items acquired between 1815 and 1972. President Macron has committed to returning cultural heritage and acknowledging past abuses. France faces numerous restitution demands from countries like Algeria, Mali, and Benin. The bill has encountered political challenges, with differing opinions on its scope and the conditions for restitution based on diplomatic relations.

Read at The Local France