Majority MP Emmanuel Pellerin admitted to having used cocaine despite the firmness of government policies on drug use. These revelations could lead to the exclusion of the elected official from the presidential party.
These are splashes that could stain the presidential party. The Renaissance deputy (formerly La République en Marche) for Hauts-de-Seine Emmanuel Pellerin saw his cocaine consumption revealed to the general public in a survey by Mediapart published on January 25. A little secret that could cost the elected representative of the Ile-de-France dearly given the zero tolerance on drugs displayed by the government. It is also the reaction of the executive which is expected at the turn and this should not delay: the case of Emmanuel Pellerin and his possible exclusion must be examined on Monday January 30 according to the declarations of the party of Emmanuel Macron at theAFP.
A temporary or permanent exclusion? That’s the whole question, but if the deputy of Hauts-de-Seine and lawyer specializing in health law remains active in the ranks of the majority, it can be certain that this case will stick to his skin for a long time. “If the facts are proven, they seriously damage the image of Parliament but also of the party of which he is a member”, judged the spokesperson for Renaissance, Loïc Signor with theAFP. And the policy to go one better: “[Les faits] are also completely contrary to the values defended by Renaissance. […] We will hold all the consequences during the executive board which will meet this Monday, and where Stéphane Séjourné will propose his immediate exclusion”.
MP Emmanuel Pellerin, regular cocaine user
Emmanuel Pellerin began his political career recently and entered the National Assembly during the 2022 legislative elections. Since then, the shortcomings of the deputy have affected the entire party and the inconsistencies between the positions of the majority and individual behaviors can be subject to criticism. According to the revelations of Mediapartthe lawyer specializing in health law regularly used cocaine before sitting at the Palais Bourbon and on a few occasions the man would have used drugs again since his election.
Before the investigative newspaper, the elected Hauts-de-Seine first assured that his drug use, which was strictly “occasional” according to him, had stopped dead when he entered politics in 2021. “I haven’t taken drugs since my campaign. […] I am not an elected representative of the Republic who takes drugs.” A speech that changed in front of the elements available to our colleagues. Emmanuel Pellerin then admitted to having consumed narcotics after his victory in the legislative elections on June 19, 2022. finally admitting a cessation of his drug use on July 23, 2022: “I took drugs again the weekend when we celebrated my investiture in July and after that it was over”.
The presidential party on a crusade against drugs
The revelations about Emmanuel Pellerin’s cocaine use raise questions when they are put in parallel with the zero tolerance strategy on drugs defended by Emmanuel Macron since his first five-year term. As recently as October 2022, the Head of State assured during an interview on France 2 that the “fight against narcotics” was one of the “great battles” to be waged. A position widely shared by party members and which has, on several occasions, made it possible to attack the opposition. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has also regularly affirmed his opposition to all policies going in the direction of the legalization of drugs. The tenant of Place Beauvau even went further in June 2022 on the set of France 3 considering that for all drug-related problems “the first person responsible is the consumer. If there were no consumers, there would be no trafficking”.
Special treatment for Emmanuel Pellerin?
With the speeches given by the presidential party for several years, it is difficult for the deputy of Hauts-de-Seine to remain legitimate in his political stature. Especially since not applying the rule – in France the consumption of cocaine is an offense punishable by one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 3,750 euros – with as much firmness on an elected member of the majority would be badly perceived by the opposition and the French.
Not sure, therefore, that the government is taking the risk of granting preferential treatment to Emmanuel Pellerin, already pinned down less than a year after taking office in the National Assembly. Who is also a friend of Thierry Solère, an adviser close to Emmanuel Macron whose name has been attached to court cases for embezzlement of public funds and alleged influence peddling. The former deputy for Hauts-de-Seine who had given up at the last moment to stand for the 2022 legislative elections because of these cases had suggested and supported the candidacy of his childhood friend, Emmanuel Pellerin. This cocaine affair, if it is badly treated, could be a new illustration of the policy of two weights, two measures which has already been reproached to Emmanuel Macron.