135 personalities including Muriel Robin are asking the President of the Republic to withdraw the Legion of Honor from several public figures accused of sexist and sexual violence.
135 parliamentarians and artistic personalities including Muriel Robin demand this Wednesday, December 18 in an open letter addressed to Emmanuel Macron published in Libération the withdrawal of the Legion of Honor from several public figures accused of sexist and sexual violence.
Among the personalities targeted by this forum: the actor Gérard Depardieu but also the senator Joël Guerriau, the former presenter Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and the former minister Jean-Vincent Placé.
Weakened bond of trust
Stating that the Legion of Honor “symbolizes commitment, merit and dedication to France”, the forum considers that maintaining decorations awarded to individuals “sends a devastating message to society and is a humiliation for the complainants “. Especially since Depardieu “expressed his contempt for its decoration”.
“This lack of reaction adds institutional violence to the violence already suffered by the complainants. It weakens the bond of trust between citizens and their institutions,” insists this forum, for which it is important to preserve “the credibility of our institutions and justice.”
“A suspension of the orders, while justice does its work, would in no way contravene the presumption of innocence. The medals would then be withdrawn or reinstated – depending on a conviction – or not”, further indicate the signatories of this text by specifying that the Legion of Honor “imposes moral duties”.
“A strong signal”
The forum also recommends a few days before the January 1 promotion of the Legion of Honor “a strong signal for society”: “systematically suspend the decorations of people indicted for sexist and sexual violence, pending the outcome of the legal procedure.
In December 2023, the Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak announced that a “disciplinary procedure” concerning the Legion of Honor of Gérard Depardieu would be initiated after the complaints of rape against him. “It will be up to them to decide,” declared the minister on the set of C à vous.
Gérard Depardieu responded immediately in a press release sent to Agence France Presse. Via his lawyers, he announced to put his Legion of Honor “at the disposal” of the minister.
