Criticized for writing erotic novels, the French minister says he is focused on work

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire says he is fully focused on creating growth and fighting inflation, deflecting criticism for writing a “snappy” novel that was published hours before France’s credit rating was reached.

Political opponents and commentators alike mocked Le Maire for a sexually explicit scene in the book, questioning whether he should waste time writing “raunchy fiction” at a time when inflation is having a serious impact on household budgets and the French on the streets their dissatisfaction with the unpopular increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.

“I am 100% focused on work,” Bruno Le Maire told Franceinfo radio, according to Reuters.

“Fugue Americaine” is a fictionalized novel about the late legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz and chronicles the trips of brothers Franz and Oskar Wertheimer to Cuba to attend one of his concerts.

One of the passages in the book, which contains a graphic account of Oskar having sex with a character named Julia, exposed Bruno Le Maire to criticism and satire from various political opponents and commentators.

The French edition of the Huffington Post even ran the headline: “Bruno Le Maire wrote about an anus and no one was prepared for it.”

“These are 10 lines from a 480-page book,” devalued Bruno Le Maire, when asked about the controversial passage in his book, in an interview with Franceinfo. “This novel is a great human adventure and I want it to be read as such… Nothing will stand in the way of my freedom to write.”

The minister also used Twitter to defend his hobby. “Many of you ask me how I find time to write when I’m a minister,” he posted. “Some people garden or go for a walk, I write.”

François Ruffin, a left-wing legislator, told BFM television: “At a time when the French are very concerned about inflation … he should spend a minute, an hour, a week of his time writing erotic scenes ?”

This novel by Le Maire comes after Deputy Minister of Social Economy, Marlene Schiappa, also caused a stir by posing for the cover of Playboy, albeit fully clothed.