The handover ceremony (Cérémonie de passation de pouvoir) between Nicole Belloubet and Éric Dupond-Moretti, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, took place on July 7, 2020 on the steps of the Hôtel de Bourvallais, seat of the Chancellery.  

Nicole Belloubet welcomed the new Keeper of the Seals (Garde des Sceaux) by saying “This will be a very positive time for the ministry and for the public service of justice.”

After the ceremony,  Eric Dupond-Moretti, the new Minister of Justice, made his first official trip to Fresnes Prison (Centre pénitentiaire de Fresnes) in the Val-de-Marne, south of Paris, France.

The Centre comprises 1200 cell men’s prison, a women’s prison and a penitentiary hospital.

Éric Dupond-Moretti tweeted after the visit;
“My 1st tweet will be for my first trip as Keeper of the Seals.
I went to Fresnes to meet with prison officials and detainees.
Today passive and attentive witness.
Tomorrow, action and transformation!”