Allegations of pedophilia, launched by a television station against a former minister, unidentified Wednesday stoked controversy on sexual habits of some French politicians, as Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair.
Former Education Minister Luc Ferry, aroused harsh reactions after saying on Monday night, on the television channel Canal+, that another former minister “was caught in Marrakesh during an orgy with boys”.
He said that he had in this case “testimony” from “state authorities at the highest level,” especially from a prime minister, but refused to tell the name, for fear of being sued.
Luc Ferry, Minister in 2002-2004, recalled the case to explain the fact that journalists can not tell everything about the private lives of politicians. French press has been accused of indulgence in this field, after the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, wanted for sexual offenses committed against a hotel maid in New York.
If “he knows things, he must denounce the facts and tell about it”, said Rachida Dati, European MP and former magistrate.
“We have a law in France that allows prosecution of any person who commits acts of pedophilia abroad”, said Dati.
The same outrage expressed Foreign Minister Alain Juppé”. If Luc Ferry has evidence of an offense or criminal behavior (…), then Ferry should notify the justice”, he said.
“If you’re convinced that a crime took place, you notify the justice, you do not simply talk to the press,” added the head of French diplomacy.
Luc Ferry “must explain,” said Dominique Paillé of the radical party. “When you make such claims, founded or not, you have the courage to assume them”, he insisted.
Faced with these attacks, Luc Ferry has tried to justify it. “I wanted to defend the media that is respecting the privacy and is not guilty of defamation. I have no evidence, no facts about this case specifically, but while I was Minister, I heard about this”, the philosopher said for the Internet site of the newspaper L’Express.