This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8296578.stm
The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Next version
Version 11 | Version 12 |
---|---|
French minister in 'boy sex' row | French minister in 'boy sex' row |
(21 minutes later) | |
France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand is facing intense pressure over a book he wrote that described paying for "young boys" in Thailand. | France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand is facing intense pressure over a book he wrote that described paying for "young boys" in Thailand. |
The book was written four years ago, before he joined the government, but is back in the headlines following his impassioned support for Roman Polanski. | The book was written four years ago, before he joined the government, but is back in the headlines following his impassioned support for Roman Polanski. |
Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland on child sex charges. | Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland on child sex charges. |
Mr Mitterrand, nephew of former President Francois Mitterrand, has come under attack from right and left. | Mr Mitterrand, nephew of former President Francois Mitterrand, has come under attack from right and left. |
In his 2005 book The Bad Life, he wrote: "I got into the habit of paying for boys," saying his attraction to young male prostitutes was not dimmed despite knowing "the sordid details of this traffic". | In his 2005 book The Bad Life, he wrote: "I got into the habit of paying for boys," saying his attraction to young male prostitutes was not dimmed despite knowing "the sordid details of this traffic". |
"All these rituals of the market for youths, the slave market excited me enormously... the abundance of very attractive and immediately available young boys put me in a state of desire." | "All these rituals of the market for youths, the slave market excited me enormously... the abundance of very attractive and immediately available young boys put me in a state of desire." |
Mr Mitterrand, 62, has denied being a paedophile, saying the term "boys" was used loosely. | Mr Mitterrand, 62, has denied being a paedophile, saying the term "boys" was used loosely. |
'Sex tourism' | 'Sex tourism' |
The account of cruising for prostitutes in Thailand attracted little attention when it was published in 2005, when Mr Mitterrand was a TV personality. | The account of cruising for prostitutes in Thailand attracted little attention when it was published in 2005, when Mr Mitterrand was a TV personality. |
He did not share his uncle's socialist politics, and was brought into the centre-right government by President Nicolas Sarkozy in June 2009. | He did not share his uncle's socialist politics, and was brought into the centre-right government by President Nicolas Sarkozy in June 2009. |
But his strong defence of Polanski has brought the book back into the public eye. Polanski faces deportation to the United States for having had sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. | But his strong defence of Polanski has brought the book back into the public eye. Polanski faces deportation to the United States for having had sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. |
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
Mr Mitterrand said the US' behaviour, in seeking his extradition, was callous and "horrifying". | Mr Mitterrand said the US' behaviour, in seeking his extradition, was callous and "horrifying". |
Socialist Party spokesman Benoit Hamon told Reuters: "As a minister of culture he has drawn attention to himself by defending a film maker accused of raping a child and he has written a book where he said he took advantage of sexual tourism. To say the least, I find it shocking." | Socialist Party spokesman Benoit Hamon told Reuters: "As a minister of culture he has drawn attention to himself by defending a film maker accused of raping a child and he has written a book where he said he took advantage of sexual tourism. To say the least, I find it shocking." |
Marine Le Pen, vice president of the right-wing National Front, read excerpts of Mr Mitterrand's book aloud during a television interview, and said it left "an indelible stain on the government". | Marine Le Pen, vice president of the right-wing National Front, read excerpts of Mr Mitterrand's book aloud during a television interview, and said it left "an indelible stain on the government". |
She called for the culture minister to step down. | She called for the culture minister to step down. |
"Resign, Mr Mitterrand and perhaps, afterwards we'll be able to give lessons to other people," she said. | "Resign, Mr Mitterrand and perhaps, afterwards we'll be able to give lessons to other people," she said. |
Mr Mitterrand said it was an honour to be dragged though the mud by the National Front, and criticised the Socialists for making common cause with the extreme right. | Mr Mitterrand said it was an honour to be dragged though the mud by the National Front, and criticised the Socialists for making common cause with the extreme right. |
A senior aide to President Sarkozy, Henri Guaino, on Thursday backed the minister, saying the row was "excessive and quite undignified". | A senior aide to President Sarkozy, Henri Guaino, on Thursday backed the minister, saying the row was "excessive and quite undignified". |
But the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby, in Paris, says that the revelation that a senior cabinet minister was involved in sex tourism, just as the country holds negotiations with Thailand to discuss ways of fighting it, will inevitably embarrass Mr Sarkozy's government. | But the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby, in Paris, says that the revelation that a senior cabinet minister was involved in sex tourism, just as the country holds negotiations with Thailand to discuss ways of fighting it, will inevitably embarrass Mr Sarkozy's government. |
Do you agree with the calls for Frédéric Mitterrand to quit? Send us your comments using the form below: | Do you agree with the calls for Frédéric Mitterrand to quit? Send us your comments using the form below: |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |