PARIS (AFP) - Two key parties in France’s left-wing alliance were Wednesday facing crises after senior figures were accused of violence against women, with a Greens party chief stepping back from his role days after a colleague from hard-left France Unbowed.
Julien Bayou was “suspended from his role” as co-president of the Greens’ bloc in the National Assembly (lower house), the party said late Tuesday, after he was accused of psychologically abusing an ex-partner.
One of the most prominent MPs of France Unbowed (LFI) -- allied with the Greens in a broad left alliance against President Emmanuel Macron -- Adrien Quatennens on Sunday admitted to slapping his wife.
He stepped down from a senior role as party coordinator.
Party leader and three-time presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon leapt to Quatennens’ defence on Twitter, blasting “police ill-will, media voyeurism and the social networks” while hailing his protege’s “dignity” and “courage”.
It was not until hours later that Melenchon posted another message gesturing towards Quatennens’ wife -- too late for many critics.
Macron’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Tuesday that it was “extremely shocking to have someone playing down domestic violence”.
A report about Bayou was submitted to the ecologists’ panel in July, prompting allegations the probe had moved too slowly.
“These are volunteers working on cases that are sensitive by definition. Calm and time are needed to gather testimony and take the necessary decisions,” said Marine Tondelier, expected to stand soon for leadership of the Greens.
Allegations that sexual harassment and even assault are rife in French politics stretch well beyond the left.