“You are putting men accused of rape at the head of the state”: Macron arrested by a high school student in Gaillac – Teller Report

Heckled by an 18-year-old high school student during a trip to the Tarn three days before the legislative elections, the Head of State reaffirmed his desire to protect the presumption of innocence. It’s a hectic start to his five-year term. Emmanuel Macron was arrested this Thursday, on the sidelines of a trip to the Tarn to talk about security in the rural world, about the presence of Damien Abad and Gérald Darmanin in his government, both accused by women of sexual violence. “You put at the head of the state men who are accused of rape and violence against women, why?” Launched Laura, an 18-year-old high school student. Macron defends the presumption of innocenceA la Leaving the Gaillac gendarmerie where he went this Thursday morning to discuss the deployment of 200 new gendarmerie brigades, Emmanuel Macron decided to go and greet the people who were waiting for him there. It was in the middle of this walkabout, between selfies and handshakes, that Laura, educated in high school next to the gendarmerie, challenged the head of state. The young woman later explained to BFMTV that she herself was also a victim of sexist and sexual violence but that she never dared to file a complaint because, according to her, “it never succeeds but also because there are there are men like that at the head of the State”. The President of the Republic replied that he had just spoken about these questions with the gendarmes, declaring that he was “for the freedom of speech”. “I accompanied her and I will continue to accompany her, to protect her”, he explained. “At the same time to function in society you must have the presumption of innocence”, he explained. then added.”For me it’s bullshit”The cries of “liar” and a “you are abominable” then sounded. “I don’t understand how you can talk about the presumption of innocence when thousands of women are raped every year and left to be ruled by men who are accused of these kinds of things,” Laura told our microphone after his exchange with the Head of State.”For me it’s bullshit, I find it hypocritical,” she adds. “He keeps repeating that the great cause of the five-year term is the fight against violence against women but he names men who are accused of it, “she concludes. Two accused ministers Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, had been targeted by a complaint for rape, then relaunched and for which the prosecution requested a dismissal in early 2022. Freshly appointed Minister of Solidarity in May, Damien Abad is accused of sexual violence. In this case, the Paris prosecutor’s office has not opened a preliminary investigation “as it stands”, for lack of “elements allowing the victim of the facts denounced to be identified”. The accusations against Damien Abad, which occurred just after his appointment, reignited the anger of feminist associations, already very upset after the accusations against Gérald Darmanin. This affair weighed down the first days of Emmanuel Macron’s new five-year term, while the Head of State for the second time made equality between men and women a priority for his five-year term.