French prison chief quits ahead of report

The head of France’s prison service has quit, the justice ministry has announced, two days ahead of a report on the country’s problem-plagued penitentiaries. Philippe Galli, 60, who was named to head the prison service only last year, “presented his resignation on Friday”, the ministry said in a statement yesterday. It gave no reason for Galli’s departure but sources within the prison service said Galli and Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas were badly at odds.

Galli could not be reached for comment. He will be replaced for the time being by his deputy, Stephane Bredin. Urvoas on Tuesday is to receive a white paper on prisons drawn up by a commission headed by a conservative former senator, Jean-Rene Lecerf. France’s prison system has become a hot political issue ahead of the April 23 presidential elections.

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