On May 21st Mediapart published an investigation based on allegations from two women that they were raped by the new minister for solidarity and the disabled, Damien Abad. Mediapart also revealed that the claims had been reported to the ruling La République en Marche (LREM) party on May 16th, four days before Abad was appointed to the new government. Since the revelations members of the LREM have struggled to justify the appointment of Abad, who strongly denies the claims. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne says she was “not aware” of the allegations in advance. Marine Turchi reports.
The new French government under Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne is under growing pressure after Mediapart revealed that the newly appointed minister for solidarity and the disabled, Damien Abad, has been accused of rape by two women. In its investigation Mediapart also revealed that the allegations had been reported both to the right-wing Les Républicains (LR), in which Abad was until recently a senior figure, and the ruling La République en Marche (LREM) on May 16th.
