“A recognition of the suffering of the victims, and a reaffirmation of the values of our Republic”. One hundred and thirty-five parliamentarians and public figures ask Emmanuel Macron, in an open letter published this Friday in the daily Libération, to “suspend the Legion of Honor” of Gérard Depardieu, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and even senator Joël Guerriau, prosecuted for sexual violence.
“We, the signatories of this letter, who are or have been ministers, parliamentarians, decorated personalities who proudly wear the insignia of the Republic, refuse to allow their shine to be tarnished by the retention in law of personalities implicated for sexist violence and sexual,” write the signatories, including actress Muriel Robin and figure skater Sarah Abitbol.
Video“You are not the pride of France!” »: before Depardieu's trial, a demonstration was held in front of the court
They cite in particular the journalist Patrick Poivre d'Arvor and the actor Gérard Depardieu, indicted for rape, as well as the centrist senator Joël Guerriau, indicted for administering a substance with a view to committing rape or sexual assault. .
As the January 1 promotion of the Legion of Honor approaches, they ask the President of the Republic to “systematically suspend the decorations of people indicted for sexist and sexual violence, pending the outcome of the legal procedure”.
“This gesture would be a strong signal for society, a recognition of the suffering of the victims, and a reaffirmation of the values of our Republic,” argue the signatories, including former ministers such as Aurélien Rousseau, Joël Giraud, Patrick Kanner, Laurence Rossignol and Elisabeth Moreno and many deputies and senators, including males, like Jean-Louis Touraine.
Emmanuel Macron supported Gérard Depardieu at the end of December 2023, affirming that he was a “huge actor” who “makes France proud” and denouncing “a manhunt”. The Head of State considered that the Legion of Honor was an order which is “not there to preach morality”, disavowing his Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak, who had recently announced the launch of a disciplinary procedure which could remove the Legion of Honor from Gérard Depardieu.
“Being decorated not only confers rights, but imposes moral duties. Honor cannot be a privilege indifferent to ethics and the consequences of our actions”, write the signatories of the platform, who wish that the order of the Legion of Honor “be fully part of the fight against gender-based and sexual violence”.
