Macron Under Fire Over “Homophobic” Human Rights Chief

French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after appointing François-Noël Buffet as Défenseur des droits, the country’s human-rights watchdog. Opponents argue the decision is incompatible with the job because Buffet previously campaigned against same-sex marriage and voted against extending medically assisted reproduction to single women and lesbian couples. LGBTQ+ advocates and rights groups have described his selection as “absurd” and warned it could undermine protections for minorities. Supporters and lawmakers backed the appointment by a narrow margin, framing it as an institutional decision requiring independence.