Gérard Depardieu, duty of fathers, “demographic rearmament”… What to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s interview in “Elle”

In an interview given to the magazine “Elle”, published on Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron returned to numerous subjects linked in particular to women’s rights and sexual violence.

“There is no complacency in me”declared, in an interview with the magazine She published Wednesday May 8, the President of the Republic about Gérard Depardieu. The president returned to his statements at the end of December on the show “C à vous” where he said he was “great admirer” of the French actor indicted for rape. In this interview with women’s weeklyEmmanuel Macron returned to other controversial statements such as that on the “demographic rearmament” but also announced the opening of a debate on the role on “the duty of fathers” and wished that we could “define in our law” the notion of consent.

On Gérard Depardieu

The president returned to comments he made at the end of December, when he said he “great admirer of Gérard Depardieu”denounced “a manhunt” and claimed that the actor “makes France proud”. “I have never defended an aggressor against victimsassures Emmanuel Macron in this interview. I spoke about Gérard Depardieu because there was quite a controversy over comments made in a documentary, and on the question of the Legion of Honor. However, I am in favor of listening.”

“There is no complacency on my part. Just a desire to respect our principles, such as the presumption of innocence. These same principles which will allow justice to rule next October and that is a good thing.”

Emmanuel Macron

in “She”

“I have deep respect, kindness and great confidence for and in the words of women”adds the president, who assures that he is “uncompromising on the issue of rape, domination, this culture of brutality. My priority is and has always been the protection of victims, and this is also the case for the Depardieu affair”.

“I used the expression ‘manhunt’ in a gender-neutral way, if I can put it that way. I don’t like media trials, justice by tweets, and in general. We are in a society which seeks to kill people in a few days, then which forgets them, I am more in the fight, in the maquis.he finishes.

On the “duty of fathers”

“We allowed men to exempt themselves from all their parental duties”deplores the President of the Republic, who sees “a real inequality”. Emmanuel Macron wishes to open the debate on “the role of fathers”. “I am in favor of returning to a logic of rights and duties, including for fathers”says the president who pleads for “no longer just a right but a duty of visitation, a duty of monitoring, education, pursuit of the parental project” even after “separation of a couple when it occurs”.

On “demographic rearmament”

During a press conference in mid-January, Emmanuel Macron spoke of his desire for a “demographic rearmament” to combat the decline in the birth rate. An expression which had sparked controversy and criticism, particularly from feminist associations. “I used it by extending the metaphor into other sectorsjustifies the president. This is to say that the strength of a nation also lies in its capacity to generate a dynamic birth rate.” For Emmanuel Macron, “every woman must freely dispose of her body” and “we must not make those who do not want to have children feel guilty, but the poor organization of our society must not prevent women and families from having children if They want it.”

On the notion of consent in the law

Emmanuel Macron wishes that we can “define in our law” the notion of consent, so that it is “clear, fully objective and respectful of our principles”. A proposed text, prepared by parliamentarians and Éric Dupond-Moretti, the Minister of Justice, should “see the light of day by the end of the year”specifies the president.