Gérald Darmanin, June 23, 2020 at the National Assembly. - Jacques Witt / Sipa

Gérald Darmanin is one of the winners of the cabinet reshuffle carried out on Monday. Until now Minister of Action and Public Accounts under Edouard Philippe, he became Minister of the Interior with the advent of Jean Castex in Matignon. The rape complaint against him "did not obstruct" his promotion, we are assured in the entourage of the President of the Republic.

"It seems that things are going in the right direction," said the source, without giving further details. The Elysee Palace "never comments on current cases", she added, however. Gérald Darmanin "aspired to more" and "he embodies the republican order, a priority of the government", explains the entourage of Emmanuel Macron.

🔴 Police violence, restoring police confidence ... #Ministerial reshuffle #GouvernementCastex https://t.co/K9G7NiEky6

- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) July 6, 2020

In mid-June, lawyers for the woman who accuses the 37-year-old minister of raping her in 2009 denounced the government's support for her. After two years of procedural battle, the Paris Court of Appeal had ordered in early June the resumption of investigations into the accusations of rape, sexual harassment and breach of trust brought against the minister by Sophie Patterson-Spatz.

A freely consented relationship according to the Minister

Heard in free hearing on February 12, 2018, Gérald Darmanin confirmed having had sexual intercourse with the complainant, but according to him freely consented and on the latter's initiative.

This close friend of Nicolas Sarkozy replaces in Beauvau the ex-socialist Christophe Castaner, himself close to the head of state. Jean-Michel Blanquer had been "evoked" for this position, confirmed the same source, but the decision to choose Gérald Darmanin "was taken early in the day on Monday".

Dear Gérald, your story is like France. This ministry is that of daily life and emergency. It is that of crises and the heart of the Republic. For 20 months, I had the chance to direct it with @NunezLaurent. I have full confidence in @MarleneSchiappa and you. https://t.co/YMkKpyOSFU

- Christophe Castaner (@CCastaner) July 6, 2020

"It is a great honor for the grandson of an immigrant that I am to be appointed Minister of the Interior of our beautiful country" tweeted this grandson of an Algerian and resistant tirailleur, born of a father who was a bar owner and a mother cleaning lady.

A Department Expanded to Citizenship

Asked about the departure of Christophe Castaner, "no one has deserved it but we must make choices," replied the entourage of the president. On the other hand, "it would be in the order of things that Laurent Nunez be maintained" like his secretary of state, added this source. Gérald Darmanin's ministry is also expanding to Citizenship, a new portfolio entrusted to Marlene Schiappa.

Asked about the possibility for Gérald Darmanin to combine with the town hall of Tourcoing, the entourage of the Head of State was content to answer that the new minister had resigned from Monday from the Hauts-de-France regional council, pending that his situation on the town hall of Tourcoing be "clarified".

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  • Rape
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Justice
  • Ministry of the Interior
  • Reshuffle
  • Gérald Darmanin