“It’s a painful situation for everyone.” The leader of La France insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, spoke on the program “Sunday in politics”, on France 3, after the revelation of accusations of rape, sexual assault and sexist harassment against Taha Bouhafs , which had been invested by the party for the legislative elections. “We start from a point which is that of our time: the voice of women is a priority and it is she who is believed first. This is what the commission [interne du parti] decided”he explained, Sunday, May 15.
“I ask that we leave it there. We will see how things will evolve, whether justice is seized or not.”
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumisein “Sunday in politics”, on France 3
“We took five days to solve a problem that some televisions which had the same problem with their presenter have not solved in 20 years, or that other parties continue to invest as candidates for deputy of people convicted of domestic violence “, also declared Jean-Luc Mélenchon. LFI announced on Wednesday that it had opened an internal investigation after receiving four reports targeting Taha Bouhafs, including one for rape, one for sexual assault and one for sexist harassment.
>> Taha Bouhafs case: what we know about the accusations of sexual violence against the former LFI candidate for the legislative elections
In parallel and in a way “separate”the leader of LFI nevertheless insisted on “underline the odious character of the racist campaign against Taha Bouhafs”. “That’s when Fabien Roussel stepped in”continued Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The secretary general of the PCF recalled, Monday on France 2, the conviction of Taha Bouhafs for racial insult – the person concerned appealed the decision – and asked “to the rebellious France to review this candidacy”. What Jean-Luc Mélenchon obviously did not digest. “I remain in shock to have seen a political leader from our family intervene in the midst of a racist campaign to attack someone”.
Clémentine Autain, LFI deputy for Seine-Saint-Denis, also defended on Sunday, once again, the management of this file internally. “I am the one who saw the victims, the one who participated with [la députée] Mathilde Panot in the confrontation with Taha Bouhafs”she pleaded on BFMTV. “In 48 hours, we acted”continued Clémentine Autain, explaining that the women concerned did not want these facts “be public”. The internal unit of political training “has given itself confidentiality as its mode of operation”.
“I wish that (the alleged victim) can go to file a complaint”she added, while considering that it came back to the latter “to make the decision” because “It’s something difficult, painful”. “Which organization has done better than us?”also asked the deputy LFI, referring in particular to the candidacy of Eric Zemmour, accused of sexual violence by eight women. “We didn’t have the political will to protect Taha Bouhafs.”
Clémentine Autain also denounced “a campaign of racism and class contempt” against the former candidate. She also denounced a “willingness to harm our new popular union”the Nupes, despite the rapid measures adopted to withdraw the nomination from the ex-candidate.