INTERVIEW
"Valéry Giscard d'Estaing put his hand on my waist, then he slipped it on my left buttock." The German journalist who says she was the victim of inappropriate gestures on the part of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing confirms her version of the facts. Interviewed by Europe 1, Ann Kathrin Stracke, who works for the German public television WDR, returned on the day of December 18, 2018, during which the former head of state, after an interview, touched her buttocks several times. A complaint for sexual assault was filed with the Paris prosecutor's office on March 10.
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"I tried to extricate myself, but I did not succeed"
"I did the interview in French, it went well. After the interview, I asked for a photo of the team with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. His employee, who was in the room with us , took the photo, and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing put his hand on my waist, then he slipped it on my left buttock ", tells Europe's microphone 1 Ann Kathrin Stracke. "We asked for a second photo, and he started again. Like the first time, I tried to push his hand away, but I didn't succeed. I really felt like he insisted."
Also according to this journalist, the former French president did not stop there, and would have taken advantage of the situation for the third time to make an inappropriate move. "He wanted to show me pictures that were on the wall. He put his hand on my waist and my buttock again. I tried to free myself, but I didn't succeed," says Ann Kathrin Stracke. "I cannot say what is going on in his head at that time. I turned to my colleagues, I signaled to them that I was in an oppressive situation, I was very uncomfortable . I felt humiliated. "
"I took 15 months to talk about it"
Once back at her editorial office in Cologne, the journalist confides in her management. "My employer sent a letter to Mr. Giscard d'Estaing's office to express his full and complete disapproval of the sexual acts committed when I was in Paris. His office only confirmed that he received the letter," says Ann Kathrin Stracke. However, it will take him over a year before he dares to turn to justice. "I put 15 months before talking about it, I received the advice of a legal firm. I am aware that Valéry Giscard d'Estaing is a former president, who still has influence and power , but I think it's important to talk about his behavior, "she concludes.
For his part, the former head of state said he did not remember this interview. Also questioned by Europe 1, his lawyer considered that "the facts which are reported appear particularly harmless and ridiculous".