The deputy from the North, absent since September, arrived "around 11 a.m." at the Foreign Affairs Committee, according to a parliamentary source, to take part in the work of examining an information report on the reform of the diplomatic corps.

He sits at the end of a table, face closed, next to the deputy of the GDR group Tematai Le Gayic, also noted an AFP journalist on the spot.

Sentenced in December to a four-month suspended prison sentence for "violence" on his wife, the deputy from the North had ruled out resigning, denouncing a "media lynching".

He was suspended for a period of four months from the group of LFI deputies, until April 13, and sits at this stage as a non-registered deputy.

His return to the rebellious group is also conditional on a course of accountability on violence against women.

"I will respect the collective decision of the group", declared the deputy, intending however to "honor" his mandate.

The affair had also divided the partners of the rebels within the left alliance Nupes.

The leader of the environmental deputies Cyrielle Châtelain had thus clearly demanded her resignation.

"For a sanction of this nature, we would have pronounced the expulsion", added the first secretary of the PS Olivier Faure.

The decision of the parliamentary group has also been debated among activists: more than a thousand rebellious activists and Nupes have signed a forum in Le Monde, to denounce the decision of the movement to exclude it only temporarily.

Tried in appearance on prior admission of guilt (CRPC or "plead-guilty"), the deputy was sentenced for "violence without incapacity committed by spouse" between October and December 2021, as well as for "regular and malicious sending of messages" to his wife between August and September 2022. He must pay 2,000 euros in damages.

"The investigation concluded what I had recognized: a slap given in the context of an argument, more than a year ago and never reproduced, and the sending of too many romantic text messages following an announcement of divorce misunderstood”, said Mr. Quatennens at the time.

The approval hearing, which was held behind closed doors, did not, however, reveal the details of the facts.

© 2023 AFP