Dhe five-year anniversary of MeToo has been a big topic in France’s media over the last few days: in this country, one area of public life after another has been shaken far more than in Germany, and not drop by drop, but by a whole cascade of revelations. Sometimes the deceptive impression was created that France had taken its time in becoming aware: in fact, it all started unobtrusively. In the meantime, however, women name new molesters, rapists or thugs on a weekly basis, who can be found in all sectors and with every conceivable political or moral attitude. The sheer mass of cases alone completely redefines gender relations.
In politics, the scandals don’t stop, and one retreat follows the other. Most recently, the Greens and the left-wing populist movement France insoumise, Julien Bayou and Adrien Quatennens, lost their most important young male talents, less because of harassment and more because of violence. Nonetheless, both parties see themselves as progressive on gender issues and have now received painful wake-up calls. However, they are by no means alone, Renaissance or Les Républicains are just as affected (FAZ of July 11). The only party that has so far been partially spared relevant revelations is Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement national, which espouses feminist theses when they can be used against Islam. But nobody really believes that there are fewer cases there. It is probably more of a party that does not let anything get to the public.