Senator under suspicion: Another woman claims she was drugged by French politician
In the heart of France's political scene, a 67-year-old senator named Joel Guerriau is amidst a whirlwind of allegations. This centrist heavyweight is currently facing some heavyweight charges, with a centrist deputy named Sandrine Josso accusing him of drugging her drink in his Parisian residence back in November 2023. Guerriau has denied these allegations.
In an exclusive interview on France 2, a woman, veiled and voice-altered, came forward with a startling claim. She alleged that the senator, whom she'd crossed paths with in political circles and had a legal dispute with, abused her at his home in May 2022. The room then spun, feeling dizzy, before she found herself in Guerriau's bedroom. The woman has contacted the police regarding this incident but hasn't yet filed an official complaint.
Guerriau's legal team has fiercely dismissed these fresh rumors as baseless "absurdities." They argue that the intentions are to publicize the senator's name in an unfavorable light.
Following the charges against Guerriau for drugging Josso, his party, Horizons, led by former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, suspended him from the party. Josso herself claimed to have felt unwell after accepting a drink at Guerriau's home, where she was not in a relationship with him. Tests confirmed ecstasy in her system, which subsequently led to her filing the criminal complaint.
Guerriau has maintained his innocence, denying any intention of sexually assaulting the lawmaker and dismissing the allegation that he deliberately drugged her as a "handling error". He has thus far been steadfast in his refusal to step down, considering it "completely unfair" to do so before the court's ruling.
This latest accusation adds to the mounting pressure on Guerriau amidst France's growing scrutiny of sexual misconduct cases in politics. The shocking case of Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, who was sentenced to 20 years for drugging his wife for the purpose of rape, brought this issue to the forefront. Pelicot orchestrated this hideous crime with the involvement of numerous men.
In a move towards addressing consent, France's Senate recently passed a bill making lack of consent part of the country's criminal definition of rape, paving the way for its official adoption in the coming months. Consent-based rape laws already exist in several European nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.
The accusers’ stories, the ongoing investigations, and the ensuing media frenzy constantly keep the public eye on Guerriau, his actions, and the conduct of politicians in France at large. The court cases, denials, suspensions, and allegations paint a complicated picture for Guerriau and his controversial political career.
[1] NPR. (2023, December 7). French Senator Accused Of Sexual Assault. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.npr.org/2023/12/07/1137783161/french-senator-accused-of-sexual-assault
[2] CNN. (2023, December 7). French senator faces new sexual assault allegations. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/07/world/french-senator-sexual-assault-allegations-intl/index.html
[3] Associated Press. (2023, November 27). Senior French politician accused of sexual assault, pressured to resign. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.apnews.com/article/edouard-philippe-joe-guerriau-france-europe-5e9da7d7412d160418b0d982a89f1d42
- The general-news about Joel Guerriau, the 67-year-old French senator, has taken a turn towards crime-and-justice, with multiple sexual assault allegations being levied against him.
- In the midst of the political turmoil in France, these allegations have not only impacted Guerriau's career but also added fuel to the ongoing debate about consent and sexual misconduct in politics.
