New PM defends promotion of rape accused
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PARIS: France’s new prime minister yesterday firmly defended the contested promotion of a colleague accused of rape as his interior minister, in charge of enforcing French laws.
Prime Minister Jean Castex’s vigorous expression of support for the minister, Gerald Darmanin, follows protests by women’s rights groups and questions about whether President Emmanuel Macron is failing in his promises to make a priority of equality between men and women.
Castex told broadcaster BFM-TV that he takes total responsibility for Darmanin’s appointment at the Interior Ministry. He was promoted from his previous job as budget minister.
“He, like everyone else, has the right to the presumption of innocence,” Castex said.
Darmanin is under preliminary investigation over a rape accusation that he firmly denies. He says the encounter was consensual.