Sexual harassment claims spark appeal to end sexism in French politics

Seventeen French former women ministers have launched an appeal against sexism in politics, following accusations of sexual harassment against two leading politicians this week. It is not up to women to adapt to male-dominated environments but to men to change their behaviour, they argue.

Corinne Lepage - “There’s a problem in all political parties" RFI

In an article published in the Journal du Dimanche Sunday paper, the former ministers say they will “no longer keep quiet” over sexual harassment in politics and will “systematically denounce all sexist remarks, inappropriate gestures and behaviour”.

The signatories, both from the right and left, include former finance minister Christine Lagarde, now head of the International Monetary Fund, and former justice minister Elisabeth Guigou.

Their appeal comes on the heels of a scandal that broke a week ago when eight women accused a deputy parliamentary speaker, Denis Baupin, of sexually harassment over a number of years.

Baupin, Sapin face sexism accusations

Baupin, who recently left the Green party EELV, has denied the charges, but has resigned in order to prepare his defence.

“Like all women who have gained access to what were exclusively male domains,” the appeal reads, "we have been subjected to sexism and have had to fight it. It is not up to women to adapt to these milieux, it’s up to some men to change their behaviour."

A message that is sure to get Finance Minister Michel Sapin’s ears burning.

Last Tuesday he admitted acting "inappropriately" towards a female journalist after twice denying any improper conduct with her.

Problem for all political parties

“It’s important that women who have exercised political power and who still exercise it, from whatever political party, to say that there’s a problem,” former ecology minister Corinne Lepage, who signed the appeal, told RFI.

“There’s a problem in all political parties and we have decided to resolve it once and for all,” she added.

While admitting the political sphere was not the worst-hit profession, she said it had to set an example.

“Politicians have to be exemplary, we cannot fight for female equality if we’re not ourselves able to make the law prevail," Lepage insisted.

Lepage stressed that France’s labour law protects employees and allows women to press charges but said these provisions are not sufficiently applied.

Proposed measures for improving the situation include setting up an ethics commission within all political parties to make sure complaints are dealt with and extending the current three-year deadline for women to be able to press charges.

The appeal also wants support groups to be able to press charges on behalf of victims and prosecutors to be instructed to systematically follow up cases of sexual harassment.

Strauss-Kahn case one of many

In recent years, a number of French male politicians have been accused of sexual harassment.

The highest profile case involved Dominique Strauss-Kahn when he headed the International Monetary Fund and was touted as a possible future French president.

He faced accusations that he sexually assaulted a hotel maid in New York in 2011.

The charges were eventually dropped and the case was settled in a civil suit.

During one parliametary session, then housing minister Cécile Duflot was greeted with a cacophony of wolf-whistles and cat-calls when she addressed the assembly in a striking flower-patterned dress, having previously been criticised for attending a cabinet meeting in jeans.

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