Most people were revolted at the way a sex tape of a French politician was exposed, not the tape itself
sex and politics, French insouciance rules that the public interest stops at the bedroom door. Presidents have often kept mistresses. Public opinion shrugs off such dalliances. While in office, François Hollande was photographed astride a scooter visiting his lover. In 1899 Félix Faure died in his mistress’s arms at the Elysée Palace.
Yet on February 14th Benjamin Griveaux, Emmanuel Macron’s struggling candidate for mayor of Paris, made history by standing down after a private sex video he made was posted online. Mr Griveaux, a close ally of the president, did not dispute its authenticity. In 2018 he sent the clip via an app to a woman with whom he was having a consensual liaison.
To some this marks a cultural shift: the end of French tolerance of sexual indiscretion in public life. It represents the “Americanisation” of French politics, wrote one commentator; the embrace of “puritanism”, said another. That it was an effort to bring down Mr Griveaux is not in doubt. Mr Pavlensky, who once nailed his scrotum to the cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square and was granted political asylum in France, said he was out to expose Mr Griveaux’s “hypocrisy”.
Yet most public anger is directed at Mr Pavlensky and the perils of technology, which suggests sexual culture may not have changed that much. One in five French people say they have shared sexual images of themselves. The political reaction has been near-universal revulsion—not at Mr Griveaux’s behaviour, but at the way it was exposed, and the Russian link. “Odious”, tweeted Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left leader who usually delights in Mr Macron’s woes. Others were darker still.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
France will not indiscriminately sign a post-Brexit deal on December 31 - ministerFrance would not sign a bad post-Brexit deal with the United Kingdom on Dec. 31 ...
Read more »
Game is on again between France and Germany as EU spars over budgetAngela Merkel and Francois Hollande sealed a breakthrough deal on the European U...
Read more »
Lawyers say they will seek asylum in France for Julian AssangeJulian Assange's European defense team says it will try to seek asylum in France for the Wikileaks founder, whose full hearings for extradition to the United States on spying charges start next week.
Read more »
Qantas, Air France, KLM tally up coronavirus costsQantas Airways reports that the 'negative impact' from the coronavirus outbreak will likely cost it between 100 million and 150 million Australian dollars ($67 million to $100 million) in pre-tax profit for the second half of the company's fiscal year.
Read more »
Adventure awaits at the L'Hevana Residence in Meribel, FranceWe paid a visit to L'Hévana Residence in Meribel for a stay that had the magic of the Alps with all the comfort of home
Read more »
Air France-KLM expects coronavirus impact of 200 million euros, could climb higherAir France-KLM expects the coronavirus outbreak to wipe 150 million to 200 milli...
Read more »