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The head of the French Green Party stepped down from his post on Monday after his former partner allegedly accused him of psychological abuse, amid mounting pressure within his party and broader efforts to hold French politicians accountable for bad conduct towards women.
Julien Bayou said in a statement that he would step down from his post as national secretary of the Europe Ecology-The Greens party, a growing force in French politics in recent years. He said he would not leave his parliamentary seat, but would resign from his post as co-chair of the ecology group at the National Assembly.
Bayou had been suspended from his parliamentary leadership post last week as his party considered action to take regarding a complaint filed against him in the party’s anti-harassment unit. Party mate Sandrine Rousseau said the complaint was filed by her former partner and she accused him of psychological abuse.
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An internal investigation of the party is ongoing, but no criminal charges have been filed.
Julie Bayou, pictured here in Paris after the first round of parliamentary elections on June 12, 2022, has decided to step down amid allegations of her former partner’s abuse.
(Photo AP / Christophe Ena, File)
Bayou said in his statement that he was placed in an “unsustainable” and Kafka-like situation, exacerbated by pressures on social media. He said he wasn’t told directly what he is accused of and “I can’t defend myself because they refuse to listen to me.”
Last week, famed far-left lawmaker Adrien Quatennens stepped down from his role as coordinator for the France Unbowed party after acknowledging slapping his wife. Influential three-time presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon initially defended him, and both drew widespread criticism within their left camp for failing to deliver on promises to stand up for women’s rights and combat sexist violence.
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French politicians across the spectrum have faced allegations of misconduct against women. Last week, the French parliamentary speaker released the first public report of the complaints to a special unit aimed at combating sexual and other harassment in the National Assembly.
