Paris (AFP)
The Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, targeted by a complaint for rape and object of demonstrations and forums denouncing his appointment to the government, said "quiet like Baptiste", in an interview to be published Saturday in the Voix du Nord.
"I am at the complete disposal of all the magistrates of France. I am calm like Baptiste", declares Mr. Darmanin in the regional daily, referring to the character scapegoat undergoing the blows with phlegm.
Gérald Darmanin was accused in 2017 of rape by a woman, Sophie Patterson-Spatz, who requested it in 2009, when he was project manager in the legal affairs department of the UMP (party which has become LR), to try to set aside his 2004 conviction for blackmail and malicious calls against an ex-companion.
According to her statements, Mr. Darmanin made her show her support and she felt compelled to "go to the pan", as she explained to the investigators. Mr. Darmanin admitted having had sexual intercourse with this woman, but according to him, freely consented.
"You still have to measure what it's like to be wrongly accused, to have to explain to your parents what happened because, it's true, I had a life as a young man "explains Mr. Darmanin in the regional daily.
Affirming "that his honor is flouted" and his family "insulted", the minister said that three court decisions "had been favorable".
First of all classified as no action, the procedure was relaunched by the Paris Court of Appeal, which asked for new investigations in early June.
Subject of forums and feminist demonstrations since his entry into government, the new Minister of the Interior regrets that "when we cannot attack on the merits, we try to dirty".
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