Nuñez rejects Darmanin's 'ghost stock' claim on child abuse cases

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez rejected Thursday the notion of a "ghost stock" of unregistered child sexual abuse cases, a claim made by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin following the Lyhanna affair. Darmanin's July letter to Nuñez criticized police handling of minor abuse investigations, citing prosecutor reports of abandoned or lost cases. Nuñez insisted all files are processed and prioritized with prosecutors, dismissing criticisms of security forces as illegitimate. Nuñez said he will meet Darmanin in coming days to respond point-by-point to the observations, offering constructive answers from police and gendarmerie services. The dispute follows public outrage over the June death of 11-year-old Lyhanna.