He had deplored the “inquisition” of which Nicolas Hulot was the subject at the time of the revelations of the ephemeral magazine “Ebdo”, in 2018. But the day after the publication of the Special Envoy's investigation into new accusations of rape and sexual assault against the former minister, the deputy Matthieu Orphelin this time immediately distanced himself, assuring the alleged victims of his support. However, this former close to the accused, who was also spokesperson for the Fondation pour la Nature et l'Homme by Nicolas Hulot, will have to “withdraw” from the campaign of his current champion, the green candidate for the presidential Yannick Jadot.
"The serenity necessary for the exercise of his functions (of spokesperson) is no longer possible following the revelations of Special Envoy", indeed explained this Saturday evening the campaign director Mounir Satouri.
It was therefore deemed "opportune to release him from this responsibility and leave him free to answer and communicate," he then said.
"I am flabbergasted by the testimonies heard"
The day before, Matthieu Orphelin had made known his support for the victims via a press release shared on social networks: “Gender-based and sexual violence is an extremely serious subject on which no tolerance can be accepted.
Let’s listen to all the victims and help them speak out.
Never invalidate their words.
The accusations concerning Nicolas Hulot revealed Thursday evening in Special Envoy are serious.
I am astounded by the testimonies I have heard and I would like to give my full support to these women who had the courage to speak out in this way.
These revelations must sound like an electric shock.
Stop impunity.
"