In her book “la Familia grande” (Seuil), the lawyer Camille Kouchner reveals a family secret.
She tells how her father-in-law, the famous constitutional expert Olivier Duhamel, allegedly abused her twin brother "Victor" (the name has been changed), then a teenager, at the end of the 1980s. If the general public will learn all from this sordid Incest case within a large family of left-wing intellectuals, the author assures us that this secret was not for the many friends of the couple made up of Olivier Duhamel and his mother, the academic Evelyne Pisier , died in 2017. A small band who used to meet every summer in the family property of the professor of law in Sanary-sur-Mer (Var).
The philosopher Luc Ferry, a former traveling companion of Olivier Duhamel, explains that he was not aware of anything.
"I learn this story with astonishment," he tells us by text message, specifying that he has not been with the family for a very long time.
Elisabeth Guigou, who also frequented the house of Sanary for a time, claims that she was also unaware of this heavy secret.
“She discovered this terrifying story in the press, develops those around her.
His first thoughts go to Evelyne Pisier's three children.
She also sent a message to Camille Kouchner to express her support.
The former Minister (PS) of Justice was appointed president of a commission on incest and sexual violence against children last month.
The mother then sided with her new husband
“It's not a surprise, however, admits political scientist Janine Mossuz-Lavau.
The question I was asking myself was not whether it would come out but when.
I learned last year that Camille was writing a novel about all this.
Like most of the couple's relatives, the emeritus research director at CNRS indicates that she learned of the facts around 2008-2009, when Camille Kouchner and her twin brother told their mother everything.
But Janine Mossuz Lavau refuses to discuss the substance of the case.
“It's a very complicated situation,” she explains.
I was very good friends with Evelyne Pisier.
And when you have a friendly and emotional bond with someone, you don't judge in the same way as when you observe from the outside.
"
In her book, Camille Kouchner, whose father is none other than former minister Bernard Kouchner, tells how her mother then sided with her new husband.
Also close to the family, lawyer Jean Veil told us that he did not want to say anything about this case.
Once a friend of Olivier Duhamel, documentary filmmaker and historian Patrick Rotman does not hide his immense dismay.
“I spent several summers at the house in Sanary, until 1996, when my last stay.
There was always a crazy crowd, it was very nice, he recalls.
But, like the dozens of people, known or unknown, who frequented the place at the time, I was absolutely not aware of such facts which, if I understood correctly, were occurring in Paris.
"
"I was revolted and above all in absolute incomprehension"
It was only one evening in 2010 that he learned of the accusations against Olivier Duhamel, from the mouth of Marie-France Pisier, the actress and sister of Evelyne, found dead (
Editor's note: the trail of suicide was retained
) in 2011. “Like everyone else, I was totally terrified, amazed,” he breathes.
I was revolted and above all in absolute incomprehension.
Olivier was an absolutely charming, exuberant, nice and funny person.
I did not doubt the reality of the facts but for me it was implausible.
"
When Marie-France Pisier reveals this intimate drama to him, she also explains to him that "Victor" does not want the affair to be publicized at all.
“It was not for me or anyone else to make the decision to speak.
It is up to the
victim
to make it public or not, says Patrick Rotman.
They made this decision today, not before.
As for Olivier Duhamel, he hasn't seen him for 25 years.
This did not prevent him from asking many questions.
"How did he manage to live with that on his conscience?"
»Asks the documentary filmmaker.
