After three weeks of hearing, the interrogation of Georges Tron began Friday morning at the Palais de Justice and Paris.
The former Secretary of State, acquitted at first instance, is tried on appeal for rapes in a meeting of two former collaborators at the town hall of Draveil.
He once again forcefully denied the facts with which he is accused.
Straight as an i, in a dark suit, Georges Tron, gray hair combed back, has been saying the same thing for ten years.
"I have never had a sexual relationship, neither consented nor in a coerced form, neither with Virginie Ettel nor with Eva Loubrieu."
The mayor of Draveil has been on appeal for three weeks for the rapes in a meeting of his two former collaborators.
Acquitted at first instance, like his co-accused Brigitte Gruel, the city councilor has not changed his line of defense: he denies everything altogether.
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Before addressing the facts, the president conducted the questioning on her practice of reflexology in the office or in the restaurant.
"That the foot can have a sexual connotation has never escaped me", admits Georges Tron, "but the diversity of the profiles on which I practiced took away in my eyes, perhaps naively, this erotic character."
"I defend myself, perhaps awkwardly"
When confronted with the many testimonies of women who explain themselves having undergone foot massages at times as unexpected as during an interview or a prior job interview, the mayor takes refuge behind the "educational virtue" "and" therapeutic "of these gestures.
Georges Tron however admits having heard rumors of sexual harassment which targeted him in spring 2010, that is to say a year before the complaints for rape.
He then set up a case on Virginie Ettel, one of the two complainants.
Isn't this kind of approach a form of intimidation?
Losing patience, Georges Tron cries out.
"When a collaborator throws crap on your account ... I defend myself, perhaps awkwardly."