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French minister quits over sexual harassment accusation | French minister quits over sexual harassment accusation |
(40 minutes later) | |
A French junior minister accused of having sexually harassed staff of a town hall where he is mayor has resigned from the government. | A French junior minister accused of having sexually harassed staff of a town hall where he is mayor has resigned from the government. |
Civil Service Minister Georges Tron, who denies the allegations, says he does not want to be a burden to the government. | |
His resignation comes in the wake of the US arrest of ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn earlier this month. | His resignation comes in the wake of the US arrest of ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn earlier this month. |
He is charged with sexually assaulting a chamber maid in a New York hotel. | He is charged with sexually assaulting a chamber maid in a New York hotel. |
In the wake of the Strauss-Kahn case, there has been speculation internationally over whether France is prepared to re-examine its strict observance of privacy laws to report scandals affecting politicians. | In the wake of the Strauss-Kahn case, there has been speculation internationally over whether France is prepared to re-examine its strict observance of privacy laws to report scandals affecting politicians. |
'Foot massages' | |
A statement on Sunday by Prime Minister Francois Fillon's office said Mr Tron had acted "in the general interest" but his resignation did not prejudice his case. | A statement on Sunday by Prime Minister Francois Fillon's office said Mr Tron had acted "in the general interest" but his resignation did not prejudice his case. |
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the allegations of harassment, brought by two former municipal employees in the town hall of the Paris suburb of Draveil. | |
The two women accuse Mr Tron of molesting them on the pretext of giving them foot massages, when they worked for him. | |
One said the therapy "degenerated quickly", according to the Associated Press news agency. | |
One of the women, known only as Laura, told Le Parisien newspaper, said she was inspired to take action by the Strauss-Kahn case. | |
"When I see that a little chambermaid is capable of taking on Dominique Strauss-Kahn, I tell myself I do not have the right to stay silent," she said. | |
"Other women may be suffering what I suffered. I have to help them. We have to break this code of silence." | |
Mr Tron denies the allegations, which he has described as "incredible". | |
He is counter-suing his accusers for slander. | |
"All of this is grotesque," his lawyer Olivier Schnerb said. "It's a succession of false assertions that are entirely defamatory." |