Paris, March 20 – A political debate concerning alleged sexual violence in Parisian after-school care has intensified, with Rachida Dati, a candidate for the right and center in the Paris municipal elections, asserting that the opposition had warned the City of Paris as early as 2015. This claim was made during a BFMTV debate on Wednesday evening, where Dati clashed with Emmanuel Grégoire, who was then a deputy mayor.
Dati’s Accusations and the 2015 Council Meeting
Rachida Dati, who served as Minister of Culture, referred to the ongoing situation as a “pedocriminal scandal.” She directly challenged Emmanuel Grégoire, stating, “When you are elected, you are responsible, assume your record, the pedocriminal scandal, you recruited these after-school agents.” Dati specifically cited a municipal council meeting on April 14, 2015, where she claims the opposition “alerted” the city, only to be dismissed with the response, “Move along, there’s nothing to see.”
This assertion brings to light past discussions regarding the recruitment process for after-school staff. Several animators have been accused of assaults or rapes against children in the capital in recent months, making the issue a central point of contention in the municipal election campaign.
Emmanuel Grégoire’s 2015 Response
Indeed, in April 2015, during a Paris Council meeting, UMP elected official Jean-Pierre Lecoq questioned Anne Hidalgo’s team about the multiplication of sexual violence cases. He referenced incidents such as a Parisian college supervisor being arrested and a school director in Isère being prosecuted for rape. Lecoq expressed concern that after-school agents were being recruited too quickly, without proper consideration of their “psychological, moral, or even judicial backgrounds.”
Emmanuel Grégoire, then the deputy in charge of human resources, responded to Lecoq’s concerns. For eight minutes, Hidalgo’s right-hand man detailed an “extremely robust recruitment procedure,” which included verification of the sex offender file and the file of individuals prohibited from exercising certain professions. Grégoire stated that “all measures are taken at the time of recruitment to control everything that is controllable.” He also maintained that in the event of a report, animators are immediately suspended.
Collective SOS Périscolaire’s Perspective
However, the collective SOS Périscolaire, contacted by France Inter, argues that the problem does not lie with recruitment and controls. Instead, families are denouncing an “omerta,” where reports are not escalated or processed due to a lack of proper procedures. The collective suggests that it took the scandal breaking last autumn for these issues to finally be addressed.
Mayor Hidalgo Acknowledges “Mistakes”
In a related development, Anne Hidalgo, the current Mayor of Paris, has acknowledged that “mistakes” were made regarding the violence in after-school care. She stated that “efforts need to be made,” indicating a recognition of systemic issues within the city’s after-school programs.
Paris Accelerates Training for After-School Agents
In response to the growing concerns and scandal, Paris is reportedly accelerating the training of its after-school agents to combat sexual violence. This initiative aims to improve the awareness and response capabilities of staff members in preventing and addressing such incidents.
Political Ramifications and Future Elections
The controversy surrounding after-school violence has become a significant factor in the ongoing municipal election campaign in Paris. Rachida Dati’s accusations and the historical context of the 2015 council meeting highlight the political sensitivity of the issue. Emmanuel Grégoire, as a candidate for the left (excluding LFI), has faced scrutiny regarding his past role and the city’s handling of these matters.
The debate underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and robust safeguarding measures within public services, particularly those involving children. The outcome of the municipal elections may well be influenced by how effectively candidates address these critical concerns.
