Europe

Macron defence staffer allegedly raped after Élysée Palace party

French prosecutors investigate alleged assault of female soldier by colleague in July

According to Libération, the alleged victim and alleged attacker were both colleagues deployed at the high-security office at the Élysée Palace. Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Sat Nov 13 2021 - 08:45

French prosecutors are investigating allegations that a female soldier in Emmanuel Macron’s defence staff was raped by a serviceman colleague after a farewell party at the Élysée Palace in July.

The alleged assault took place this summer after a going-away reception for a general and two others that was attended by the French president, Mr Macron, according to French daily Libération, which first reported the accusations.

The paper said the farewell reception began at the Élysée Palace, where Mr Macron said a few words and left at about 10pm. Some of those present then left the Élysée and moved on to the premises of the president’s personal military staff on Rue de l’Élysée, on an adjacent street. That is where the attack is alleged to have taken place.

According to Libération, the two soldiers, the alleged victim and alleged attacker, were colleagues deployed at the high-security office at the Élysée Palace dealing with sensitive government matters, most of them classified or top secret.

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Libération reported that the young woman arrived at the police station nearest to the Élysée after the alleged assault and immediately reported the alleged rape that night.

The accused soldier had been questioned as an “assisted witness” by prosecutors, a status indicating he remains subject to further interrogations but has not been formally charged, a judicial source told AFP.

Asked for comment, a presidential official said that “as soon as the authorities were aware of these claims, measures were immediately taken” to support the alleged victim and “the person accused was immediately transferred far from the Élysée”.

Mr Macron’s office would await judicial investigations before deciding on any further action, an official told news agencies. – Guardian

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