PPDA, Gérard Depardieu… Outcry against a controversial award

More than 100 people have sent a letter to Emmanuel Macron for the withdrawal of the Legion of Honor notably that of Gérard Depardieu or PPDA.

© Bestimage More than 100 people have sent a letter to Emmanuel Macron for the withdrawal of the Legion of Honor notably that of Gérard Depardieu or PPDA.

IN BRIEF

• 135 personalities are calling for the removal of the Legion of Honour from four men involved in sexual violence
• These include Gérard Depardieu, Senator Joël Guerriau, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and former minister Jean-Vincent Placé
• A text that was addressed to Emmanuel Macron

There are 135 of them who have spoken out in an open letter addressed to Emmanuel Macron and published by our colleagues at Liberation. Parliamentarians and artistic personalities, including Muriel Robin, are calling for the withdrawal of the Legion of Honor from several public figures,because of their involvement in sex scandals. Among them, Gérard Depardieu, Senator Joël Guerriau, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and former minister Jean-Vincent Placé.

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Indicating that the Legion of Honor “symbolizes commitment, merit and dedication to France”, these personalities believe that keeping this nomination of the people mentioned “sends a message devastating to society and is a humiliation for the complainants.”

135 people sign an open letter

In the letter, we can read: “This lack of reaction adds institutional violence to the violence already suffered by the complainants. It weakens the bond of trust between citizens and their institutions”, insists this column, for which it is important to preserve “the credibility of our institutions and justice”.

This withdrawal would thus send a very strong message: “A suspension of orders, while justice does its work, would in no way contravene the presumption of innocence. The medals would then be withdrawn or reinstated – depending on a conviction – or not”, indicate the signatories. 

A strong message addressed to victims of sexual violence

In this letter, the personalities also ask a few days before the January 1st promotion of the Legion of Honor “a strong signal for society”: “systematically suspend the decorations of people indicted for sexist and sexual violence, pending the outcome of the judicial proceedings”.

As a reminder, the Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak had indicated last December that a “disciplinary proceeding” concerning Gérard Depardieu's Legion of Honor would be initiated. But to date, nothing has been put in place. This is why the signatories hope that things will speed up rapidly.