After being accused of psychological assault against an ex-partner, the leader of the French Green Party has resigned. However, when he resigned on Monday, he made it clear that he had no idea what exactly he was being accused of – so he could not defend himself against the attacks, according to Julien Bayou. This is an “unsustainable situation,” he wrote. It is the second party within the left-wing opposition Nupes alliance to come under pressure for alleged violence against women.
It is unclear what exactly Bayou is accused of. There had already been an internal complaint against the Secretary-General of Europe Ecologie Les Verts (EELV) in July, which initially had no legal repercussions. Last week, Green MP Sandrine Rousseau claimed on a TV show that the party leader had urged a former partner to commit suicide.
In mid-September, left-wing populist MP Adrien Quatennens publicly admitted to beating his wife and announced his resignation as party leader. His wife had previously reported him to the police. This case attracted all the more attention because party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon initially praised his confidant for his courage to speak out in public, without saying a word about his wife.
Criticism of “system that protects attackers”
More than 500 women, including members of left-wing parties, signed an appeal. They protested against “a system that protects attackers”. Mélenchon later admitted that his response was inappropriate. However, the left alliance continues to discuss how to deal with suspicions of sexual violence against women within its ranks.
The Alliance Nupes, which includes left-wing populists, communists, as well as socialists and greens, did surprisingly well in the June parliamentary elections. However, according to polls, 63 percent of left-wing sympathizers are convinced that the alliance will fall apart sooner or later.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
