Abad, in an image taken in Paris last May. /
Abad will be replaced by Jean-Christophe Combe, former director general of the French Red Cross
Damien Abad, until now Minister of Solidarity, leaves the post after six weeks in office. Abad, who comes from the right, has been accused by several women of rape and sexual assault, something he denies at all times. He will be replaced by Jean-Christophe Combe, former director general of the French Red Cross.
The dismissed minister has described as “vile slander” the serious accusations made against him. “I will fight against this disastrous movement that relegates the presumption of innocence to the rank of unimportant antiquity and that makes slander a dangerous political weapon in the hands of malevolent spirits,” said the former minister. Abad, who is also a deputy, affirms that he will continue fighting to prove his innocence.
The Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, recalled in an interview with the magazine ‘Elle’ she recalled “the duty of political leaders to set an example at all times.” She has considered that, after the accusations made against the former minister, the Justice must rule.
Instead, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Secretary of State for Development, remains in the Executive. Zacharopoulou, who is a gynecologist by profession, has been accused by two women of rape and by a third of “gynecological violence” for events that allegedly occurred during medical examinations years ago in her office.