France’s parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code, 178 years after abolition

France's National Assembly has unanimously voted to formally repeal the historic "Code Noir," or "Black Code," a 17th-century law that governed slavery in its colonies and classified enslaved people as property. The vote, which took place on Thursday, May 28, 2026, marks a significant symbolic move to address France's colonial legacy and its historical involvement in the slave trade.

Although France officially abolished slavery in 1848, this decree, originally signed by King Louis XIV in 1685, had inexplicably remained on the statute books for nearly two centuries. President Emmanuel Macron recently acknowledged that the law "should never have survived" the abolition of slavery and that the prolonged silence surrounding it had become "a form of offense."

The repeal, which saw a unanimous 254-0 vote, was met with emotional debate in parliament, with some lawmakers, descendants of enslaved individuals, emphasizing that while necessary, this action alone cannot fully repair the extensive suffering caused by centuries of slavery. This long-overdue legislative correction aims to confront the enduring impacts of France's past.