Under investigation for rape of a minor aged 15 after the publication of the book "Le Consentement" by Vanessa Springora, the writer Gabriel Matzneff said he had regrets about his pedophile practices in Asia but did not recognize "crime" in these relationships that he is accused of, in the Philippines or in France.
“I must say that at the time no one thought of the law. We did forbidden things. It was quite unfortunate, a tourist, a foreigner should not behave like this. We must, adult, turn our heads, resist the temptation, "said the octogenarian in an interview with BFMTV, in Italy, where he has taken refuge since the affair broke out. "Of course I regret, just as if I do something that is not right, I regret it. "
But Gabriel Matzneff is not aware of having committed a “crime” while having relations with children. “At the time, we were talking about the hijacking of minors, inciting the minor to debauchery, indecent assault… But no one ever spoke of a crime! "
And to add: “It was over 40 years ago! […] You were there as a traveler and you had young boys and girls who flirted with you and jumped on you, under the benevolent eye of the police. "
"It really is the Soviet Union!" "
Regarding the accusations of Vanessa Springora, the writer continues to plead the consensual relationship with the one who was then only 14 years old. “We lived a lasting and magnificent love story. And it’s this beautiful memory that I want to keep, and I don’t want to spoil it by reading a book in which I am told that she says mean things about me, a book that would hurt me, ”explains Matzneff adding that he would never say "anything against her because he is a bright person".
“We have to go back to the era. Great writers like Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault campaigned for the lowering of the sexual majority, "he still justifies.
Matzneff denounces the decision of the Minister of Culture Franck Riester to request the suspension of the annual public allowance which he has received since 2002: “The State drives the point home to drive my head into the water. So that I kill myself! Then, nervous, continues: "It really is the Soviet Union!" Come on, Matzneff, to the gulag. I don't know how I'm doing. "
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The writer says he hopes "that the investigation of the Paris prosecutor's office will deliver me from all these attacks." As for my publishers who have stopped publishing my books, I hope that this is only temporary… ”.