The deputy for Ain, related to the LREM group, was present on Tuesday for the session of questions to the government.
"Today (Monday) in the National Assembly for the debate on the draft amending budget," he tweeted the day before.
The former head of LR deputies was appointed in May Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities, taken from President Emmanuel Macron on the right.
But the day after his appointment, Mediapart relayed accusations against him of rape, dating from 2010 and 2011. The complaints were closed in 2012 and then 2017.
At the end of June, a complaint was however once again filed with, as a result, the opening of a preliminary investigation for attempted rape.
Mr. Abad left the government in early July, the "conditions of serenity" being "no longer present", said Olivier Véran, government spokesman.
His return to the National Assembly "is shocking" and "it does not pass like a letter to the post office", reacted Clémentine Autain (LFI).
According to her, "it is not trivial to have a deputy among the 577 who is accused of rape with drug use".
Some macronists were also uncomfortable.
"If there were any internal arrests, a decision would be taken collectively" on his fate within the LREM group, according to a manager.
"For the moment, we have to live with it".
"We are not embarrassed but relieved," said Olivier Marleix, president of the LR deputies.
"The hot potato is elsewhere", according to his right-wing colleague Patrick Hetzel.
Damien Abad, re-elected MP for Ain on June 19 for a third term, affirms that the accusations which led him to leave the government are "despicable slanders", as well as a "terrible political weapon in the hands of 'malicious spirits'.
© 2022 AFP