French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne has filed a lawsuit demanding the withdrawal of several phrases from an autobiographical book, arguing that it deals with her private life, in a move seen by opponents as an attack on freedom of expression.
Bourne is also seeking symbolic damages of one euro and €5,30 for the costs of the case. The verdict is expected on <> of this month.
The book, published on the fourth of this month, is written by journalist Beringer Pont, and is entitled "Élisabeth Borne: La Secrète."
The journalist met with the prime minister twice, met with members of her family and friends, and conducted some 80 interviews during the preparation of the book. Special thanks were received to the Prime Minister for helping her complete the book.
Amazement
Journalist Beringer Pont was surprised in a statement to Mediapart of the prime minister's reaction, and said that she obtained the book 10 days before its release, and she and her staff had all the time to read it, but there was no reaction until 5 days after the book's release.
Mediapart said the controversial phrases in the book spoke of the prime minister's health, her son, and her real or supposed sexual orientation, as rumours circulated that she "may have been – or still is – in a relationship with a woman."
Bourne vehemently denied this in an interview with a gay magazine, saying that if she were gay, she would not hesitate to make it public.
Invasive privacy
Elizabeth Bourne told Le Journal du Dimanche that the journalist was keen to describe the circumstances of Bourne's father's suicide, interfered in her private affairs, as well as her relationship with her son and her ex-husband, and spoke about the prime minister's sexual orientation. Elizabeth Bourne commented: "How can anyone claim that all this was done with my permission?"
On the other hand, journalist Berenger Pont explained that the prime minister opened the door for her, and made her meet with those close to her to complete this book, and stressed that if any comma is omitted from the book, it will become almost impossible for anyone later to publish any book of importance about public figure in France.
Elizabeth Bourne's lawyer explained that the prime minister has never confused her private life with her public responsibilities, and therefore in the name of the "dictatorship of transparency" it is not permissible to interfere in her personal life under the pretext that she is a public figure.