Élysée Palace (archive image)
Photo: Ian Langsdon / picture alliance / dpa
The French judiciary has apparently started preliminary investigations into rape allegations in the Élysée Palace.
It is about the allegation of a soldier who accused another soldier of raping her in July after a ceremony in the official residence of President Emmanuel Macron.
The news agency AFP and the newspaper »Liberation« report, each citing judicial circles.
The man will now be classified as a witness with legal counsel, according to AFP in Paris.
According to Liberation, the two were assigned to a special staff and knew each other.
After the party, the woman had filed a complaint in a police station in the eighth arrondissement, and the public prosecutor's office had been dealing with the case since July 12.
According to the "Liberation" report, the Élysée Palace announced that it would not comment on ongoing proceedings.
However, "after the facts became known, measures were taken."
Defense Minister Florence Parly therefore also initiated legal investigations against the accused.
apr / AFP