Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

France

France's Macron defends national security chief accused of rape, cites 'presumption of innocence'

Macron insisted 'I share the feminist cause.'

Associated Press
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for July 14 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for July 14

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

French President Emmanuel Macron is defending his decision to put a man accused of rape in charge of all the nation’s police forces, citing the presumption of innocence.

After multiple protests by women’s rights groups against the recent appointment of Gerald Darmanin as interior minister, Macron insisted “I share the feminist cause,” and pledged to continue pushing for tougher measures against sexual violence and for gender equality.

France's President Emmanuel Macron attends the Bastille Day military parade, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in Paris. France are honoring nurses, ambulance drivers, supermarket cashiers and others on its biggest national holiday Tuesday. Bastille Day's usual grandiose military parade in Paris is being redesigned this year to celebrate heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

France's President Emmanuel Macron attends the Bastille Day military parade, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in Paris. France are honoring nurses, ambulance drivers, supermarket cashiers and others on its biggest national holiday Tuesday. Bastille Day's usual grandiose military parade in Paris is being redesigned this year to celebrate heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

Questioned about the rape allegation during a Bastille Day interview on French television networks, Macron became agitated and said: “There is the presumption of innocence. ... No cause can be fairly defended if you do so by ignoring the principles of our democracy.”

FRENCH MAN ACCUSED OF MOLESTING HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN KILLS SELF IN INDONESIA JAIL, POLICE SAY

Darmanin firmly denies the rape accusation, and an investigation is underway.

In an apparent reference to the #MeToo movement, Macron insisted that justice should run its course and that no one should become “the victim of a judgment by the street and social networks,” and that France shouldn’t adopt the “worst of Anglo-Saxon society."

France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin attends the Bastille Day military parade, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in Paris. France are honoring nurses, ambulance drivers, supermarket cashiers and others on its biggest national holiday Tuesday. Bastille Day's usual grandiose military parade in Paris is being redesigned this year to celebrate heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin attends the Bastille Day military parade, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in Paris. France are honoring nurses, ambulance drivers, supermarket cashiers and others on its biggest national holiday Tuesday. Bastille Day's usual grandiose military parade in Paris is being redesigned this year to celebrate heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

The U.S.-driven movement that allowed women to speak out online about abuse by powerful men has met with a mixed reception in France.

French feminist groups want Darmanin to resign, saying the appointment is a blow to victims of sexual violence and contradicts Macron’s promises to make gender equality a “great cause” of his presidency.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

They’re also angry at the appointment of new Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, who has ridiculed the #MeToo movement and defended a top government official who was accused of rape.