Caroline Cayeux in turmoil. Since her appointment to the government on July 4, the Minister of Territorial Communities has come under fire from critics because of homophobic remarks made during a session in the Senate in April 2013, when the former mayor of Beauvais had mentioned a plan “against nature” by designating marriage for all. Several associations have filed a complaint against him and members of the majority have signed a forum to be published on Sunday July 16 to question his continued participation in the government. Franceinfo returns to this controversy which embarrasses the Elysée and Matignon.
1Left-wing elected officials launch a petition
It all started when around fifty left-wing deputies asked, on Monday July 11, “departure” of three ministers – the Minister of Ecology, Christophe Béchu, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, and Caroline Cayeux – whom they accuse of having “a past” within the Manif pour tous and to be “Notorious LGBTQIAphobes”. Their petition, which appeared in the newspaper Stubborncriticizes the Minister for remarks made during a session in the Senate on April 8, 2013, when she was sitting at the Luxembourg Palace.
Quoting the philosopher Chantal Delsol, she then declared: “Je thinks that ‘the requirement of same-sex marriage, and the adoption of children that goes with it’, is not simply an ‘unnatural’ design”. Caroline Cayeux had judged the case “worse, because we don’t debate ‘the question of limits: whatever I want, and now, whatever the consequences later’.”
The petition accuses Emmanuel Macron, “elected to block the homophobic far right” to add “to his government” a “new face of the strike for all”. On the initiative of the rebellious deputy Andy Kerbrat, the text is notably signed by Ugo Bernalicis, Mathilde Panot, Danièle Obono and Adrien Quatennens. It brings together a total of a hundred signatures, including activists.
2Caroline Cayeux “assumes” her words
The next day, Caroline Cayeux said first “to assume” his remarks, during an intervention on the Public Senate channel, while denying having spoken of “caprice”. “I obviously stand by my words, but I have always said that the law, if it were passed, I would apply it”then declares the former elected Republican. “I have many friends among all these people”she adds. “It’s a bad trial that I’m being made and it upset me a lot. I’ve never been part of La Manif pour tous, I’ve never paraded, let’s be clear.”
“These people” ? This expression makes many political figures jump. “I have a lot of friends among those people. Wow”, comments the environmentalist Sandrine Rousseau. The minister “insults homosexuals on television. It is serious, dangerous and prohibited”, indignant activist Caroline De Haas. Much criticized on social networks, Caroline Cayeux then backtracked, a little later in the day, in a message posted on Twitter: “My words have hurt many of youshe wrote. I deeply regret them, they were naturally inappropriate. Equal rights must always be a priority of our action.”
Since this morning, I read and hear your messages. My words hurt many of you. I deeply regret them, they were naturally inappropriate. Equal rights must always be a priority in our action.
— Caroline Cayeux (@carolinecayeux) July 12, 2022
3Associations complain
Several associations fighting against homophobia filed a complaint on Wednesday July 13 in Paris for “public insult towards a group of people because of their sexual orientation by a person holding public authority”. Ten years after the vote for marriage for all, “These remarks are outrageous for homosexual people”, believes Etienne Deshoulières, lawyer for these associations.
“We cannot have a government that claims to be fighting against the discrimination we suffer and a minister who allows herself to say that.”
Terrence Khatchadourian, Secretary General of Stop Homophobiaon franceinfo
The words of Caroline Cayeux also sow trouble within the government. The government spokesman, Olivier Véran, thus evokes “anachronistic remarks”and Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate in charge of Transport, declared on LCI that he, too, “one of those people”.
4Minister apologizes
Caroline Cayeux returns Thursday to her remarks in an interview with the Parisian. And the tone, this time, is very different from that used on Public Sénat. The Minister says “to regret” his comments “stupid” of 2013. “The remarks mentioned date back ten years”, she adds. “And if I can’t deny having held them, obviously I wouldn’t use them anymore and regret them. I understand that these clumsy words could have hurt so much.
“I would like to renew all my most sincere apologies here because they do not reflect my thoughts at all”.
Caroline Cayeux, Minister of Territorial Communitiesin “The Parisian”
The Minister returns to the complaint lodged by several associations, indicating that she has “wrote a letter of apology” : “I want them to know that they will always find me by their side in their fight against discrimination and for equal rights.” Also asked about his expression “among these people”Caroline Cayeux ensures to measure “how shocking and painful this expression was for many people”.
5Elisabeth Borne defends her minister
Friday, on the sidelines of a trip to Calvados, Elisabeth Borne is questioned about her Minister of Local Authorities. “Caroline Cayeux made remarks several years ago that were naturally shocking. When she wanted to explain it, she obviously made awkward remarks”she believes.
“I think things are now clear and Caroline Cayeux, like the rest of the government, is hard at work and focused on her mission.”
Elisabeth Borne, Prime Ministertraveling in Calvados
“I think she had the opportunity to explain herself in an interview [au Parisien] to apologize to anyone who may have been offended.”, continues Elisabeth Borne. According to the Prime Minister, Caroline Cayeux was able “to reaffirm that she totally shares the progressive values that the president espouses, that I espouse and that my government espouses, and that she will be very vigilant in the future in the support that can be given to all associations that fight against discrimination , and in particular against homophobia”.
Within government, however, the temperature is struggling to cool. Lhe Secretary of State for Social Economy, Marlène Schiappa, denounces on France Inter remarks “obviously very hurtful”. Clément Beaune affirms on franceinfo to have discussed it with Caroline Cayeux herself: “I thought it was very important not to hide it, to say it, in private and in public, because we are talking about fundamental subjects.”
6A majority forum questions his continued government
Despite calls from Elisabeth Borne to close the debate, the case could not stop there. According to information from franceinfo, members of the majority have signed a column to be published in The Sunday newspaper, calling into question the maintenance of Caroline Cayeux in the government. It is signed by a dozen parliamentarians and former ministers. UA leading adviser assures franceinfo that a dozen current ministers are outraged, behind the scenes, by the Caroline Cayeux affair and support this platform. Still according to this source, Matignon had reread the interview granted to the Parisian by the minister. Suffice to say that the case is closely followed.