Benjamin Griveaux complains, LaREM is silently looking for his successor

Text by: RFI Follow

Benjamin Griveaux filed a complaint this Saturday, February 15 for "invasion of privacy." An investigation was opened after the dissemination of sexual videos which led to his withdrawal from the race for mayor of Paris. At the same time, the executives of the République en Marche met to find a new head of the list in place of the deposed candidate.

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Benjamin Griveaux's complaint was lodged at the premises of the regional directorate of the judicial police. The investigations were entrusted to the Brigade for the Suppression of Personal Delinquency (BRDP).

Russian protest artist Piotr Pavlenski , who burned down the facade of a branch of the Banque de France in 2017, said on Friday that he was responsible for putting online the videos complained of, claiming to denounce " hypocrisy " of the ex-candidate LaREM. According to him, the candidate for mayor of Paris used his family by presenting himself as an icon for all the fathers and husbands of Paris.

Benjamin Griveaux's lawyer, Me Malka, said he doubted that Piotr Pavlenski acted alone in the dissemination of the videos referring to the investigation opened by the prosecution. The Russian activist was arrested and taken into police custody this Saturday in another investigation into violence committed on the evening of December 31.

Limit the case by finding a new list head

At the same time, La République en Marche is struggling to find a successor to Benjamin Griveaux. The clock is ticking one month before the first round of municipal elections and the task is difficult. A meeting with the majority partners - MoDem, UDI, Agir, Radicals - was organized this Saturday before an executive office where several ministers arrived.

Party boss Stanislas Guérini tried to look good when he arrived at headquarters: " Still as determined. And it goes on. "Jean-Michel Blanquer, the Minister of National Education was more cautious:" We will see. "

After hours of meetings, no decision was made. The ministers who had made the trip and in particular the government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye came out without a word. Only MP Aurore Bergé came to make a short statement.

" We have a political situation in Paris which is exceptional, for which we are very united and which requires that we can make exceptional decisions and that we can also have time to take them," said LaREM spokesperson. . We said it from the start, Stanislas Guerini said, we will have a decision which will take place no later than Monday in light of what has happened. It is also legitimate that we can take these 48 hours of reflection which involves both Paris and which can have a resonance beyond Paris. So we are going to take this time to reflect and the meetings continue. "

Avoid a blast beyond Paris

The challenge is major for LaREM: saving the furniture in Paris and preventing the blast from spreading beyond the capital. Find a replacement candidate who wants to accept the challenge of an express campaign, who is credible and who sends the right political message.

Mounir Mahjoubi said it was available as of Friday, others said no like Marlène Schiappa, Delphine Bürkli, the mayor of the 9th district, or Agnès Buzyn. The latter were however cited as possible candidates. The first, close to Edouard Philippe could reassure the right. The second is among the heavyweights of the government. The decision must be made by the start of the week. A puzzle within a month of the first round.

► Read also: Piotr Pavlenski, the man behind the setbacks of Benjamin Griveaux?

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• 2020 municipal elections
• Emmanuel Macron
• French politics

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