Abad (44 years old), a representative of the centrist Ennahda party led by President Emmanuel Macron, considered these accusations “unfounded.”“.
The accusation of attempted rape dates back to an incident that occurred in 2010 during a party he held at his home in Paris. The investigation is still ongoing into two other sexual assault cases dating back to 2010 and 2011..
Abad told Agence France-Presse that he will prove that “there is no basis for these accusations,” stressing that he has “no doubt” that he will be acquitted in the other cases..
In May 2022, Abad was appointed Minister of Solidarity in the French government with a portfolio to oversee policies towards people with special needs..
But soon after, the investigative website Mediapart published testimonies from two women who said he assaulted them in 2010 and 2011. This report prompted a third woman to file a similar complaint.
Parliament lifted Abad’s immunity, and he was briefly detained in June 2023 before being released as the investigation progressed. He was dismissed from the government in July 2022.
#Among #harassment #cases.. #French #Minister #Disabled #Persons #charged #rape