Mr. President, you wanted to make your two five-year terms about the fight against the violence inflicted on women. You congratulate yourself on being unassailable on this subject. A major cause of your terms? That's a political posture, nothing more. Empty words for all the victims, and for all the people involved in this fight. Your comments on the C à Vous program on December 20 showed your lack of interest in the cause and your total ignorance of the field of sexist and sexual violence.

To justify yourself, you invoked the presumption of innocence, as if innocence took precedence over presumption. A person presumed innocent is not necessarily innocent. He is presumed innocent, no more, no less. Gérard Depardieu has been under investigation since 2020. This means that the examining magistrate has identified serious and concordant evidence. As a reminder, three complaints have been filed: One for sexual assault, two for rape, one of which is not time-barred.

What about the presumption of innocence for complainants? A victim has everything to lose by filing a complaint, especially when the accused is well-known and powerful. She loses her anonymity, her peace of mind, often her job, her friends – even her family – and a lot of money spent on medical expenses and lawyers. Almost 98% of victims tell the truth, need we remind you?

The popular actor rather than the unknown victim

The presumption of innocence is a founding principle of French criminal law. It prevents neither victims from speaking out, nor journalists from investigating. The press informs society and enables victims' voices to at last be heard and considered. The presumption of innocence must never be used as a pretext for denying the right to think.

Of Depardieu, you said: "He makes France proud." Five words that engage us all against our will and sign off on a French impunity for an idol, a sacred monster who is always forgiven. Depardieu doesn't need your presidential support.

The victims, on the other hand, deserved to be praised for their courage. Instead, you preferred to support the popular actor rather than the unknown victim, who was sacrificed to your admiration for this "immense actor." You referred to the Complément d'Enquête TV report, which you didn't watch.

A permissive and cowardly society

Depardieu's intolerable sexist remarks in North Korea might have convinced you of the abjectness of his language and the outrageousness of his character. As a reminder, sexist contempt is a misdemeanor, and rape is a felony, Mr. President.

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