France: Gérald Darmanin files a complaint against Audrey Pulvar for defamation against the police
The French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.
AP - Christophe Ena
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In France, the Minister of the Interior is filing a complaint against Audrey Pulvar, socialist candidate in the regional elections in Ile-de-France next June.
Gérald Darmanin believes that she defamed the police by declaring that the police demonstration last Wednesday in front of the National Assembly was "
quite chilling
".
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Audrey Pulvar was shocked by
the police demonstration
last Wednesday.
First because they questioned the work of justice, then because
the Minister of the Interior
went there to support the police, even if he does not share all their claims.
A "
rather chilling image
" said Audrey Pulvar on
Franceinfo
.
Words that were not to the taste of Gérald Darmanin who therefore lodged a complaint - on behalf of his ministry - for defamation against the police institution.
“Ms. Pulvar's words go beyond the simple framework of an electoral campaign and deeply defame the police of the Republic.
I am filing a complaint on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, ”
the minister said on Twitter.
The minister also points to the older and prescribed declarations of
Audrey Pulvar
who denounced
French "
police racism
" a year ago
.
"
Attempted intimidation
"
This complaint filed in the middle of the election period is an "
attack on freedom of expression
" and an "
attempt at intimidation
", castigates the candidate who will also file complaints: one for "slanderous denunciation" before the Court of Justice of the Republic and another for "defamation" before the ordinary jurisdiction, specified Me Patrick Klugman, lawyer of Audrey Pulvar.
“
Until now in a democracy, one could still express an opinion without the minister responsible for elections feeling authorized to intimidate a political opponent.
Total support for Audrey Pulva
r ”, tweeted for his part the First Secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure in the night from Sunday to Monday.
A minister who seems in any case ready to do anything to be loved by the police and to counter the attacks of the extreme right on the alleged laxity of the government, including to file complaints which have very little chance of success .
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Gerald Darmanin
France
French politics
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