Guest of the TF1 channel, Wednesday, December 15, for a review interview, the President of the Republic spoke about the accusations against his former minister.
Wednesday, December 15, 2021, Emmanuel Macron gave a long interview on his record. He answered journalists’ questions to take stock of the state of the country. Health situation, vaccines, confinements, but also the Benalla affair, Yellow Vests and controversial sentences, Emmanuel Macron was questioned about his entire five-year term. Among recent cases, he was invited to respond to the subject of the preliminary investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office following accusations of rape and sexual assault committed by Nicolas Hulot, in particular against underage women.
We remember that Hulot was Minister of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition from May 2017 to August 2018. Was Emmanuel Macron aware of the affairs concerning his minister? In this regard, the president replies: “in 2018, I did as every time there are ministers accused: I met him and in front of us, we had a man clearly injured and who firmly denied the facts. Justice does not did not let us know of any pending proceedings, so he remained Minister “. Comments widely shared by feminist associations and activists on social networks.
Post- # MeToo, an Inquisition company?
In the process, Emmanuel Macron defended on TF1 the right to the presumption of innocence of his minister, affirming: “Ministers have the same duties as all other citizens. But they also have the same rights, and the presumption of innocence is a right.” And to continue: “If we had had to know facts that he would have admitted, then, of course, we would have made a decision. If, as soon as there is a rumor, as soon as there is an accusation which may be legitimate , which can be the basis of an accusation, you say ‘It’s over’, so at that point there is no longer any possible life in society. Justice must be able to do its work. take these accusations very seriously. They must be educated. ” As a reminder, the government had united in 2018 to defend Nicolas Hulot after the investigation delivered by Ebdo, which revealed that a complaint had been filed for rape in 2008. Marlène Schiappa, at the time Secretary of State in charge of equality between women and men, even went so far as to post a forum in support of the accused.
As for Emmanuel Macron’s statements on TF1, they recall those made in early December 2021 about the same Hulot affair, when the president refused “a society of the inquisition”. 14 women then answered him in a forum of the World, decrypting: “By waving the inquisitorial threat, you add another layer, you tell us that we are dangerous. One more piece in the silence machine. Bringing our miseries to light would risk plunging France into darkness? are they not advancing the law rather than pushing it back to the horrors of the Inquisition? ” A clear analysis, which the president, yesterday, however did not wish to take into account.