France: complaints of rape against the Secretary of State

MISE À DAY

French justice has opened an investigation after the filing of two rape complaints against a member of the government, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, the Paris prosecutor's office announced on Wednesday. 

< p>Ms. Zacharopoulou, French of Greek origin, is Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships.

According to the French weekly Marianne, which revealed the case, the alleged acts were allegedly committed in the context of her profession as a gynecologist.

⚡ Information Marianne. Secretary of State Chrysoula Zacharopoulou is the subject of two rape complaints. The alleged acts were allegedly committed in the context of his duties as a gynecologist. An investigation has been opened by the Paris prosecutor's office. https://t.co/omA3GcBUql

— Marianne (@MarianneleMag) June 22, 2022

The first complaint was filed on May 25 and the investigation opened two days later, explained the prosecution, which specified that a second complaint had been filed on June 16.

Regarding this second complaint , the alleged facts would have taken place “in a medical setting” in 2016 and would concern an adult woman, writes Marianne, citing a source familiar with the matter.

MEP since 2019, Ms. Zacharopoulou, 46, was appointed Secretary of State last month. She is a member of President Emmanuel Macron's party, La République en Marche (LREM), recently renamed Renaissance.

Last year, she was entrusted by the government with a mission on endometriosis, a subject she has been engaged in for years. His report was submitted in January to the Elysée.

Several French ministers are accused of sexual violence, like that of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, targeted by a complaint for rape, classified without suite initially, then relaunched and for which the prosecution requested a dismissal in early 2022.

More recently, the Minister of Solidarity Damien Abad was accused of rape. The Paris prosecutor's office has indicated that it is not opening a preliminary investigation “as it stands”.

The announcement of the investigation concerning Ms. Zacharopoulou comes as President Macron finds himself since Sunday in a complicated situation, the legislative elections having deprived his camp of the absolute majority in the National Assembly.