The Mysterious Ex-Minister

The French are talking a lot about ethics these days. The Parliament passed a new law on bioethics which I hope to discuss soon. But ethics in the political workplace, in particular sexual behavior in the political workplace, and the new awareness of the general immorality and self-protectiveness of the French government, are engendering much reflection and discussion. First, a brief summary of the "Luc Ferry affair", from Bruno Gollnisch, vice-president of the Front National:

Monday night (May 30), philosopher Luc Ferry (above), former minister of Education in the Villepin government created a sensation on the Canal + television channel. Along with talk about the DSK and Georges Tron affairs he explained:

"Journalists cannot say what they know. I could give you many examples, that you know as well as I, because they all come under the heading of defamation. The problem is this: do we want a press that defies the principles of defamation and respect for a person's private life, or not? Do we want an American-style press or not?" And he referred to this week's Figaro Magazine, and the case "of that former minister who got caught in Marrakech, Morocco, in an orgy with young boys (…) The highest authorities of the State, in particular the prime minister, told me the story."

Note: Dominique de Villepin was prime minister in 2003 during the Chirac presidency:

Questioned about what proof he had, Luc Ferry responded that he "obviously" didn't have any. But added, "I have testimonies from members of the cabinet on the highest level, and from State authorities on the highest level. If I say the name now, if I blurt it out, I would be the one to be investigated and I would certainly be condemned even if I knew the story was true. Here we have an example of how violating the respect for someone's private life and defamation weighs heavily on journalists - and rightly so."

Gollnisch concludes that Luc Ferry should run the risk of a lawsuit so that the French government not be accused of covering up the depravity of a minister of the Republic, especially since it is now all over the media. To snuff it out would be an exceptionally dishonorable thing to do. He also points out that there are international agreements by which a French pedophile who indulges in immoral acts abroad can be condemned in his homeland. Gollnisch wonders whether Luc Ferry said too much, or not enough. Below, the few minutes during which Luc Ferry made his remarks.



Soon after Ferry's statements, former minister of Education in the Socialist government of Lionel Jospin, Jack Lang, assuming that he was the object of Ferry's accusations, issued an angry condemnation of Ferry. Why would Jack Lang assume that Luc Ferry had been talking about him? A long article at L'Express, a left-leaning publication, provides some background.

It seems that during the presidential campaign of 2002, there were rumors, possibly spread by opposition politicians, that Lang had been caught in the act with Moroccan boys. However no facts, no proof was ever found to back up the story.

Contacted by L'Express regarding Luc Ferry's statements, Jack Lang declared that he and his lawyer were "going to examine the possibility of suing for defamation." About the rumors, the former minister of Culture admitted: "I have suffered in the past but today I am totally serene." (…)

"Even though I never heard about this rumor, the Right always takes pleasure in gossip surrounding the personality of Jack Lang", confided a former cabinet official of the time.

Another article at L'Express dated 2005 paints a portrait of Jack Lang as a man who attracts trouble without trying. As mayor of Blois, as minister of Culture and later of National Education, he was often accused of wrongdoing. Whether it was plundering public funds to give perks and bonuses, or partially writing a book that others started or completed for him, and then passing himself off as the author, or being a pedophile (a rumor that was abroad as early as 1995), the accusations became part and parcel of his public life.

In 2002 a close associate said, regarding the rumor of pedophilia:

"Pleasure is important in his life, but he is too concerned about the freedom of others to indulge in anything illegal (…)"

Luc Ferry was also contacted by L'Express. He claimed he never thought of himself as squealing on someone:

"I wanted to defend the press that respects a person's private life, a press that was not guilty of informing. I have no proof, no precise fact about this affair, but at the time when I was minister, I heard about it. I heard many things about many ministers, but I will never talk, unless the Republic is in danger."

Luc Ferry opened up a fascinating legal debate when he made his remarks. He said that if he blurted out the name of the ex-minister he (Ferry) would be prosecuted. But it turns out that he could be prosecuted for NOT revealing the name under the law (Article 343-3 of the penal code) that declares as criminal any withholding of knowledge of a crime against children. And pedophilia is a crime. A blogger named Théophane Le Mené writes:

(…) We must conclude that, for once, the philosopher did not take the time to speak or, at least, did not measure how eagerly he was letting himself get entangled in an affair that would, in one way or another, cost him. For unlike many, he seems to take pride in being virtuous with respect to children, and his silence on a matter that he should have taken to court is frankly scandalous, but above all reprehensible. (…)

The author goes over the numerous cases of abuse of minors in which politicians were implicated. Among them, the case of the current minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterand, who has admitted to pedophilia in his book on his travels to Thailand.

There are even more stories like these. The only thing we can now hope for is that they emerge from the maze where they were sent by journalists and politicians. Because, when the defense of children is at stake, there is no defamation, no calumny, there is just a basic duty that powerful men seem to have forgotten.

A reader of the above article raises some interesting points:

- If the children were Moroccan and the sexual abuse was committed in Morocco, why would the French penal code apply?

(Note: Bruno Gollnisch answers this in the first article cited above)

- In reality, we are dealing with the question of whether non-denunciation is a separate crime. That is, can you prosecute someone for not denouncing acts that the French justice system is not qualified to judge.

(Note: Théopane Le Mené points out that whether or not the French system is qualified is determined by the judge. The important thing is to take the case to court.)

- As a provocative example, let us imagine that I have knowledge of acts of pedophilia, or mistreatment of children, in Thailand, like any French tourist. Should I inform the French authorities in order to avoid prosecution? If the answer is yes, then a third of French people should be in jail. The easiest thing would be to exile them in Thailand - everybody would be happy, the moralists and pedophiles alike. (…)

Note: Théophane Le Mené answers that a crime committed by a Frenchman abroad can be prosecuted in France, and in a case of pedophilia or another crime, punishment can be meted out in France even if the country where the act was committed does not condemn the criminal.

It turns out that Jack Lang was not the ex-minister alluded to by Luc Ferry. Or was he? A new rumor has it that the man in question is Philippe Douste-Blazy, former foreign minister under Jacques Chirac. The editor of Le Figaro who made this revelation - Thierry Desjardins - seems to have misplaced his article which was entitled "But everyone knows it was Douste-Blazy!" It is no longer on line. There are however several sites that back up Desjardins. Readers of French can consult Boursorama.

Below, the clip from Le Figaro last week reviewing the story of an orgy in Marrakech in which a French minister was participating. At the end, the article says the name cannot be divulged because there is no proof or testimony. From Agoravox.