In the turmoil after the accusations of an ex-companion, the deputy Julien Bayou announced to resign from his post of national secretary of EELV.
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Dcharges carry serious consequences. Julien Bayou, accused of moral harassment by an ex-companion, announced on Monday September 26 his resignation from his post as national secretary of Europe Écologie-Les Verts (EELV) and from the presidency of the environmental group in the National Assembly, denouncing an “untenable” situation in a press release.
“I am accused of facts which are not presented to me, which my accusers-ices say are not criminally reprehensible and which I cannot therefore defend myself since they refuse to hear me”, explained Julien Bayou. “This situation is untenable and the deleterious context seems to prevent any discernment, at a time when society is rocking and seeking the point of balance for this so necessary feminist revolution”, he added, stressing that his decision “does not challenge in question” nor his mandate as a deputy nor his “present and future commitment”.
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His lawyer assures that he has never exercised the slightest psychological violence
“Julien Bayou notes with bitterness and anger the instrumentalization of the just fight against sexual and gender-based violence for political purposes”, denounced his lawyer, Maître Marie Dosé, in a statement read to the press on Monday afternoon, deploring a “vulgar unpacking”. “No one is unaware that the congress of ecologists is being held at the end of the year, political ambition cannot justify all the crusades”, she attacked.
According to Maître Marie Dosé, Julien Bayou asked “four times in writing to be heard” by the internal unit of EELV on sexual violence and harassment. This “was purely and simply refused to him”, she lamented, denouncing “a disqualified procedure”. Her client is “deliberately kept in the dark about the facts with which he is charged”, she added.
She assured that “Julien Bayou has never exercised the slightest psychological violence against his companions”, recalling “that at no time were sexual or physical violence or harassment mentioned”.
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Julien Bayou, who should speak in the coming days, “expects his party to do everything possible so that he and others can defend themselves” in “respect for contradictory procedures”, she said. insisted, stating that his client had no intention of filing a complaint against his ex-girlfriend.
A party plunged into crisis
This resignation comes as environmentalists are shaken by accusations of moral harassment against Julien Bayou, following the testimony on a program a week ago by MP Sandrine Rousseau, who met his ex-companion.
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The environmental group in the National Assembly suspended Julien Bayou from his co-presidency on Tuesday. The former Greens presidential candidate Yannick Jadot had invited Julien Bayou on Sunday to “withdraw” from the national secretariat of EELV.
The resignation of the secretary general also occurs the day after the rejection by the Greens of an internal referendum to simplify the organization and adapt EELV to the “conquest of power”, which was supported by the party leadership, plunging the environmental training in the crisis.