The Member of Parliament (Renaissance) of Ain, Damien Abad, was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office on the evening of Thursday, May 16, to be charged with “an attempted rape that may have been committed in 2010” on a centrist elected official. Abad, the former Minister of Solidarities in Elisabeth Borne’s government, maintains his innocence but is also considered a witness assisted for two other accusations of sexual violence against two other women. All three women claim to have been victims of sexual assaults committed in 2010 and 2011 by the former president of the Les Républicains (LR) group in the National Assembly. Despite attempts to alert others to the situation, including reporting to the Observatory of sexist and sexual violence in politics and filing a complaint, these signals did not prevent Abad’s appointment to the government in May 2022.
Chloé and Margaux turned to the press for help. Their testimonies, published by Mediapart, inspired a third alleged victim, Laëtitia, to come forward as well. Her complaint, filed in late May 2022, led to a preliminary investigation and then a judicial inquiry, resulting in the charges against Abad. The lawyer representing Laëtitia stated that her client’s accusations have been consistent and supported by corroborative evidence, therefore the expected charges were logical. The accounts of these three women, activists or elected officials, describe a similar pattern of behavior by Abad, involving persistent and sometimes inappropriate seduction and flirting, both in a political context and at social events.
Margaux described a relationship in 2011 that started consensually after a drunken night but turned non-consensual when she wished to stop, with Abad forcing sexual acts against her will. In January 2024, she filed a new complaint with a civil party constitution. Chloé alleges that in 2010, she agreed to have a drink with Abad, after which she lost track of the night and woke up in a hotel room the next morning, feeling drugged and deeply uncomfortable. The women’s stories highlight the misuse of power dynamics and the failure of institutions to address allegations of misconduct, leading to significant delays in justice being served.
The case involving Damien Abad raises important questions about the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment in the political sphere, and the challenges victims face in seeking justice and accountability. Additionally, it sheds light on the systemic issues within political parties and governmental structures that allow misconduct to go unchecked and perpetrators to continue their actions unchecked. The importance of supporting and believing survivors, as well as implementing strong mechanisms for reporting and investigating such allegations, is crucial in addressing and preventing instances of abuse of power and misconduct.
The courage of the women who came forward to share their experiences with Damien Abad serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of survivors of sexual violence. Their actions have not only led to legal action being taken against their abuser but have also sparked important conversations about consent, boundaries, and accountability in political and social settings. It is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that victims feel safe and supported in coming forward, and that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions, regardless of their status or influence. This case serves as a wake-up call for the need for systemic change to prevent and address sexual violence in all spheres of society, including the political realm.
