French President Nicolas Sarkozy voiced discontent with some Senators’ decision to appeal to the Constitutional Council with a request to reconsider the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

“The initiative does me an ill turn,” Sarkozy stated, addressing the parliamentary majority.

The French President further noted that in case of abolishment of the draft law, another appeal will be issued against criminalization of Holocaust denial, according to Le Monde.

Earlier, with 70 signatures instead of the supposed 60, French Senators appealed to the constitutional council.

On January 23 the French Senate passed the bill with 127 votes for and 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, it was adopted by the French National Assembly. The bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.