“Justice is the only one who must and can decide”, replies the government spokesperson

The government continues to be questioned about the testimonies of sexual violence against Damien Abad. During the report of the First Council of Ministers, Monday, May 23, the spokesperson for the government of Elisabeth Borne, Olivia Grégoire, answered questions from journalists on the accusations of rape against the new Minister of Solidarity and deputy for Ain.

“The government stands with those who, following an assault or harassment, have the immense courage to speak out”said the government spokeswoman. “The government is also at the side of all those, still too many, who have walled themselves or who have been walled in silence. It will continue tirelessly to encourage the freedom of women to speak and will tirelessly encourage women who have suffered violence to appear in court”continued Olivia Grégoire.

Speaking more specifically about the stories accusing Damien Abad, the spokesperson judged that “establishing the truth is up to justice to do so. Justice is the only one who must or can decide”. Two complaints against the minister, filed in 2012 and 2017 by the same woman and for the same facts, were dismissed, but the Paris prosecutor’s office announced that it was analyzing a new report from the Observatory sexist and sexual violence in politics.

Olivia Grégoire, insisting on the “zero tolerance for sex offenders”, assured “that to my knowledge, no member of the government was aware of these facts”.

The new government spokeswoman clarified that the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, had spoken Sunday evening with Damien Abad. Former boss of the LR deputies in the National Assembly and the main war prize of Macronie since the victory of the outgoing president on April 24, Damien Abad has been in turmoil since this weekend. Mediapart revealed that two women accused the minister of rape in late 2010 and early 2011. The MP “contest with the greatest force” these charges.