What to do when faced with an internal complaint about acts of sexual violence or violence against women? Political parties give different answers to this question. On the left, specialized cells have been established. On the majority side, Renaissance foresees in its new statutes the installation of a body of this type. As for the National Grouping (RN) and Republican (LR) parties, they do not have a structure dedicated to this issue.
An investigation and sanction unit among environmentalists
Environmentalists set up a listening cell in 2016 after the Denis Baupin case. At the time, the former environmentalist deputy was being investigated by the Paris prosecutor’s office for sexual assault and harassment. Several elected members of the party, including Sandrine Rousseau, said they were victims of these actions.
Today, the device of the Greens has expanded functions. It is thus presented as an “investigation and sanction unit in the matter of harassment and sexual and sexist violence of Europa Ecologie-Les Verts (EELV)”. The latter, specifies the party, is in particular responsible for “conducting investigations, either in the event of a complaint or during an internal report”, before being able to subsequently pronounce sanctions. In this regard, a procedure relating to Julien Bayou is ongoing. The national secretary of the environmentalists is accused by his former partner of psychological violence.
At the microphone of France Inter, the environmentalist deputy Marie-Charlotte Garin specifies that a “training program” will be launched, “in addition to the cell”. The chosen one details the objective:
“That all those who rule within the party [soient] trained in the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and its detection”
A committee specialized in La France insoumise
La France insoumise (LFI) has a “monitoring committee against sexist and sexual violence (CFCV)”. This body was seized during two recent cases: one about Taha Bouhafs, a legislative candidate who had to resign from the candidacy after allegations of internal sexual violence; the other, Eric Coquerel, a rebel deputy, accused of sexual harassment by the former yellow vest, Sophie Tissier.
The CFCV’s “mission is to be a place of listening, help and guidance for members of La France insoumise, victims or witnesses of acts of sexist and sexual violence”, can be read on the party’s official website. It is made up of “volunteer activists” from the party, trained in these issues.
If seized, the CFCV can then transmit reports to the Committee for the Respect of Principles, “the only one empowered to make decisions on behalf of the movement regarding the alleged perpetrator.”
This body was not seized in the case of Adrien Quatennens, the object of a handrail from his wife, Céline Quatennens, for acts of domestic violence.
In the PS, a commission that should not “replace justice”
The Socialist Party has a specialized commission on sexist and sexual violence. Corinne Narassiguin, number two in the party, announced its creation last July in the columns of Figaro.
“We took time to create it because we wanted to do this work very seriously, without trying to substitute ourselves for justice,” he explained.
Its function is to advise the party with a view to possible withdrawal or exclusion. In addition, executive training has been provided since 2019. In recent years, the rose party has been marked by cases of sexual assault and harassment within the Socialist Youth Movement.
A system linked to an independent association with the PCF
The French Communist Party (PCF), shaken by cases of sexual violence within the French Young Communist Movement, also has a specialized structure.
“We have put in place a system, with an independent association responsible for collecting the words of possible victims, and which then alerts us and we take action (address, editor’s note), explained Fabien Roussel on BFMTV on Tuesday.
Then, “a commission meets and dictates a sanction,” the PCF chief also specified.
A “prevention, listening and warning” unit at Renaissance
Renacimiento, the new presidential party, foresees in its statutes the creation of a “prevention, listening and warning unit”, informs us Opinion. Thus, article 18 specifies that it will be made up of 9 members appointed by Stéphane Séjourné, patron of Renaissance. Five of them will not be part of national bodies to limit conflicts of interest and pressure, specifies France Info.
This body can be seized by the executive bureau or the national conflict commission. It is also possible to self-seize in case of non-compliance with the ethical principles of the party. Renaissance management also indicates that this unit “is not intended to replace judicial authority.” A way to distance themselves from the rebels and environmentalists, accused of internally managing these cases.
Thus, still in L’Opinión, it is specified that Aurore Bergé, leader of the majority, recalled during a meeting of the group on Tuesday that cases of sexual violence should not be settled within the party.
Most have wavered at times on these issues, as the case of Jérôme Peyrat illustrates. The former advisor to Jacques Chirac and Nicholas had received the investiture of the Republic in March in the 4th district of Dordogne. However, his candidacy was debated due to his conviction for domestic violence in 2020. Stanislas Guerini, then general delegate of LaREM, had defended an “honest man” in France info. Faced with the outcry, Jérôme Peyrat announced the withdrawal of his candidacy the same day.
No specific structure for RN and LR
In the National Rally, no body has been created to specifically manage cases of sexual and gender-based violence. The party prefers to leave these cases to justice.
“We do not create ad hoc commissions to judge people,” justified about France Inter Sébastien Chenu, deputy of the RN and vice president of the National Assembly. “If there are victims, let them file a complaint,” he added.
Within LR there is no specialized committee. The number 3 of the party, Aurélien Pradié, is in charge of collecting the reports. He had thus intervened with Damián Abad -former leader of the LR deputies in the Assembly, later passed under the Renaissance fold after an ephemeral appointment in the government- to inform him of inappropriate behavior with collaborators.
Source: BFM TV
