What is this rape accusation against Darmanin?

• Gérald Darmanin, 37, was appointed Minister of the Interior in the first government of Jean Castex.
• He is the target of feminist associations, who recall that he is still the subject of a complaint for "rape", "sexual harassment" and "abuse of weakness".
• After two years of procedural battle, the Paris Court of Appeal, for procedural reasons, ordered the resumption of the investigations by an investigating judge last June.

In Marseilles: "Shame change. "In Lyon:" Besides, my rapist is an excellent minister. "In Paris:" Governed by the culture of rape. Two days after Jean Castex's government was announced, feminist collages flourished on the walls of several cities in France to call for the resignation of Gérald Darmanin, just appointed Minister of the Interior.

He who is also mayor of Tourcoing (North) has been targeted since 2017 by a complaint for "rape", "sexual harassment" and "abuse of weakness". Aware that this could tarnish his ideal of an "exemplary Republic", Emmanuel Macron made it known, by his entourage, that this complaint did not constitute "an obstacle" to the appointment of Gérald Darmanin to the coveted post of "first cop of France". And Jean Castex "assumed". But the pressure is increasing. 20 Minutes deciphers why…

In progress pic.twitter.com/qoyzfJXCFS

What is Gérald Darmanin exactly accused of?

The business started in 2009. Sophie Spatz was 37 years old and came out of several years of depression because of a story that traumatized her. A former escort girl, she was tried in absentia and sentenced to a heavy penalty for harassing her former boyfriend. UMP activist, she knocks on all doors to try to erase this stain on her criminal record. “It may seem laughable today. But she wrote to everyone. Even Jean Sarkozy! "Says Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon, his lawyer.

Little by little, the young woman finds herself in the office of Gérald Darmanin, who is then project manager in the legal affairs department of the UMP. He promises to help him. To intervene with Michèle Alliot-Marie, Minister of Justice. According to the story of the young woman, the young activist then invites him to dinner and asks him, in return, to accompany him to the Candles, a libertine club, because "he can not enter it alone". After the evening, still according to her version, she accompanies him to a hotel where they had sex.

Why are we talking about this matter again today?

Sophie Spatz first filed a first rape complaint in July 2017. It was immediately dismissed because the young woman never appeared before the investigators to explain her approach, despite four summons. "She was afraid to go," justifies her lawyer today.

She therefore files a second complaint. But it suffered the same fate in February 2018. "The hearings conducted did not establish the absence of consent [of the complainant]", note the investigators to justify their decision. As the procedure allows, the young woman then seizes an examining magistrate. But this in turn renders it unnecessary.

The case appears to be buried. But after two years of procedural battle, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered, on June 9, the reopening of the investigations. "For a technical reason, explains a source familiar with the matter. The investigating judge dismissed the proceedings on the basis of the results of past investigations. However, he should at least have carried out an act of investigation himself before pronouncing this dismissal. This is why we return to the starting point. "

What will happen now?

The case has not yet been transferred to an investigating judge. But it is only a matter of days or weeks. He will resume the investigation. “So far, only the bare minimum has been done. We must go further, ”claims Marjolaine Vignola, another lawyer for Sophie Spatz. "I dare to hope that the judge will take the initiative to organize a confrontation between our client and Gérald Darmanin", continues Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon.

The presumption of innocence does not take precedence over the need to carry out investigations in a serene, serious and above all egalitarian manner ... moreover the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for restrictions on freedom in order to be able to conduct an impartial and dignified investigation

The brand new interior minister did not speak on the subject. But his position has never changed. He admitted to having had sex with Sophie Spatz, explaining that she was consenting and "on the initiative". Today, his entourage recalls that he "always went to all the summons in this case". And that he will continue to do so, if necessary.

It remains to be seen how the police will be able to investigate their minister responsible. "The accused finds himself in the position of having to orchestrate the accompaniment of women victims of violence by police professionals," jokes in this way the association Dare Feminism in a petition calling for its "withdrawal" from the government. By Wednesday afternoon, she had collected more than 6,000 signatures.

Justice

"Rape" accusations, suspected conflict of interest ... Darmanin and Dupond-Moretti already criticized

Politics

First eventful day for Gérald Darmanin at the Interior

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