The right-wing candidate for the presidential election, Valérie Pécresse, was the guest this Tuesday evening of a live television program on BFMTV in front of a panel of French people. A political program hosted by Jean-Jacques Bourdin, journalist, under investigation for sexual assault for less than 24 hours.
After the opening by the Paris prosecutor’s office of an investigation for sexual assault against star journalist Jean-Jacques Bourdin, the president of the Ile-de-France region, Les Républicains candidate in the election next April, said having asked himself the question of his participation in the show. She therefore demanded to be able to make an introductory statement to justify her choice to be part of it.
show up in stateswoman ” who has ” the guts to face it “. This was one of the objectives of the comments made by Valérie Pécresse. ” We couldn’t act like nothing happened “, justifies a very close adviser to candidate LR. The television channel refusing to suspend its host, the situation was very uncomfortable for the one who promises to defend the rights of women if she is elected to the Elysée. The compromise found for Valérie Pécresse to maintain her presence on the screen was therefore this introductory remark, which was therefore expected.
” I respect the presumption of innocence to which each of our compatriots is entitled. But I wanted to tell him very clearly, if these accusations are true, they are serious and they must be condemned. For too long, society has looked the other way, closed its eyes. President, I will no longer let any woman be afraid to press charges. The law of silence, it’s over “Launched Valérie Pécresse to the journalist, who remained impassive during this introductory remark.
[Affaire Bourdin] I am a frank woman who says things face to face and without detour. If I am here this evening, it is out of respect for you, the French, gathered together to ask me the questions that you have been preparing for a week. #FranceInTheEyes #Pecresse2022 pic.twitter.com/pELohpInIp
— Valerie Pécresse (@vpecresse) January 18, 2022
Visibly moved, the presenter replied: I have decided not to express myself on this subject, but I contest the facts, and I let justice do its job. »
The Parisian revealed on Saturday the filing of a complaint by a former BFMTV journalist for sexual assault for facts dating from 2013. According to the complaint consulted by AFP, this 33-year-old woman, who worked for several years with Jean-Jacques Bourdin on the morning of the chain, affirms that this one has him ” grab the neck », « brought her face closer “of his and has” tried to kiss (her) several times », without there « to arrive at “, in the swimming pool of a hotel in Calvi (Haute-Corse) in October 2013. She would have “ debated and managed to get out of the pool. The journalist would then have said: I always get what I want », « a threat from someone who had a hierarchical ascendancy according to her. Then he would have sent him for several months ” insistent emails and SMS, adds the journalist who says she has ” been constantly in fear until his departure from the group in 2017.
The management of Altice Media, owner of the channel, supported the 72-year-old host while saying they were ready to take ” all measures that may be necessary ” in terms of ” evolution of this case.
So a successful political coup for Valérie Pécresse? In any case, a striking moment of television and a marker of the time, in the wake of the #MeToo movement.