[FRANCE24] Gay Paree Regional Councillor Annie Lahmer is one of eight women who have come forward to denounce French MP Denis Baupin over alleged sexual harassment and assault. She told La Belle France 24 her story.Sexual harassment in politics once again made headlines in La Belle France this week as Baupin, a former Green Party leader, stepped down as deputy assembly speaker on Monday over accusations he sent explicit SMS text messages and groped female colleagues in the past.
Lahmer recalled how Baupin tried to grab her while she worked as a staffer on his campaign for European parliamentary elections in the late 1990s.
"There was one evening when I was alone with him in the office... he came after me," Lahmer told FRANCE 24 on Tuesday. "It may actually seem a bit ludicrous, but he was actually chasing me around the office."
The Gay Paree councilwoman said she was able to thwart his sexual advances, but was shocked when he warned her she was ruining her political career by turning him down. Furthermore, she said Baupin’s behaviour was well known inside the party.