Government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said Thursday that Didier Gailhaguet had " fallen very low " and that he was " on the verge of insult " when he described Roxana Maracineanu as " moralizing minister ", in the midst of the scandal of sexual violence.
The day before, the president of the French Federation of Ice Sports (FFSG), engaged in a standoff with the government which asked for his resignation, had deplored that the minister, " moralizing ", does not listen, " draped in his certainties ”.
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" These are words that I would qualify on the verge of insult, " reacted Ms. Ndiaye on Public Senate, saying " disappointed by the man ." He "would be honored to recognize that there have been major dysfunctions in this federation, " she added. " I consider that when we say of a woman, of a minister, that she is moralistic because she considers that there are acts of sexual assault, rape that we suspect and that are unacceptable , I really think this gentleman has fallen very low, ”she laments.
She reiterated the call for resignation which corresponds to " a moral need, a need to assume one's responsibilities when one is a leader ".
" He will say, when we have testimony, to challenge him personally or him as president of the federation, he will tell the judge that I am moralistic, " said Ms. Maracineanu on Thursday at the radio RTL.
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The Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Marlène Schiappa, for her part denounced the " rather unworthy remarks " by Mr. Gailhaguet " accusing " Ms. Maracineanu. " We are not doing morality, we are doing law ", she stressed on Europe 1: " It is forbidden to carry out touching, sexual abuse, assault , rape of anyone , "she insisted, saying that the presumption of innocence" should not be an excuse for doing nothing . "
Ms. Maracineanu criticizes the FFSG for putting trainer Gilles Beyer, now accused of rape by former skating champion Sarah Abitbol, on the circuit in the early 2000s, despite an administrative investigation highlighting inappropriate attitudes.