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Article 639-3 of the French Code of civil procedure

The appeal provided for in Article 18 of Law no. 67-523 of 3 July 1967 shall be lodged by reasoned application by the Public Prosecutor, filed at the registry of the Cour de cassation; it shall be directed against the judicial act whose annulment is sought and which is attached to the application.

This appeal may be lodged at any time within five years of the date on which the contested act was issued.

The Attorney General calls the parties to account.

No suspensive effect is attached to an appeal by the Attorney General on grounds of ultra vires.

An annulment on grounds of ultra vires applies to all. The annulment decision is not subject to appeal.

Original in French 🇫🇷
Article 639-3

Le pourvoi prévu à l’article 18 de la loi n° 67-523 du 3 juillet 1967 est formé par requête motivée du procureur général, déposée au greffe de la Cour de cassation ; il est dirigé contre l’acte judiciaire dont l’annulation est demandée et qui est joint à la requête.


Ce pourvoi peut être exercé à tout moment et dans un délai de cinq ans à compter de l’établissement de l’acte attaqué.


Le procureur général met en cause les parties.


Aucun effet suspensif n’est attaché au pourvoi du procureur général pour excès de pouvoir.


L’annulation pour excès de pouvoir vaut à l’égard de tous. La décision d’annulation n’est susceptible d’aucun recours.

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