By SudOuest.fr with AFP
Guest of Jean-Jacques Bourdin’s political program, suspected of sexual assault, LR candidate Valérie Pécresse said in an introductory remark that she would not let “any woman be afraid to file a complaint”
LR presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse assured Tuesday that on violence against women, “the law of silence is over”, at the start of the new program by Jean-Jacques Bourdin, which is the subject of a complaint for suspicion of sexual assault.
Stressing that she had “clearly asked the question” of her participation in the program “France in the eyes”, Valérie Pécresse assured that “it is of course up to justice to decide” by adding: “I respects the presumption of innocence to which each of our compatriots is entitled”.
But “very clearly these accusations, if proven, are serious and must be condemned”, added the candidate, assuring that the fight against sexual harassment and violence against women was “a personal fight”. “For too long, society has looked the other way, closed its eyes” and “too many women have been afraid to file complaints”, she added.
But “the law of silence is over”, added Valérie Pécresse who promised that, as president, she would not let “any woman be afraid to file a complaint”. “For speech to be freed, women need to feel supported. With me, they will be, ”she promised.
Visibly moved, Jean-Jacques Bourdin assured that he had decided “not to (s) ‘express on this subject”. “But I contest the facts reported by the press and I let justice do its job,” he added.
Valérie Pécresse had conditioned her participation on an “introductory remark” at the start of the program.