Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Macron defends official’s appointment
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron is defending his decision to put a man accused of rape in charge of the nation’s police forces, citing the presumption of innocence.
After multiple protests by women’s-rights groups against the recent appointment of Gerald Darmanin as interior minister, Macron insisted that “I share the feminist cause,” and he pledged to continue pushing for tougher measures against sexual violence and for gender equality.
Questioned about the rape allegation during a Bastille Day interview on French television networks, Macron became agitated and said: “There is the presumption of innocence. … No cause can be fairly defended if you do so by ignoring the principles of our democracy.”
Darmanin has denied the rape accusation, and an investigation is underway.
Macron insisted that justice should run its course and that no one should become “the victim of a judgment by the street and social networks,” adding that France shouldn’t adopt the “worst of Anglo-Saxon society.” The U.S.-driven #MeToo movement, in which women have spoken out online about abuse by powerful men, has been met with a mixed reception in France.