A new case of sexual violence in politics: Two days after the disclosure of two allegations against Andre Santini's former minister, the Nanterre prosecutor's Office confirmed that they had opened an investigation into the mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux ("Hauts-de-Seine"), who is now aged 81.
Two former employees of the town hall filed the complaints on Friday. One was a former chief-of-staff of Andre Santini, and one was a former bailiff. They accuse the elected official, aged 81, of sexual assault, sexual and moral harassment, and facts that date back to 2021 and 2022.
"I have never been accused of engaging in any of the behavior described in the complaints. Andre Santini, last week, in Le Monde, said that in forty years of loyal and good service, I have never been charged or accused of such behavior.
Having served as secretary of state or minister of state several times under Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, Andre Santini was a long-serving deputy. Since 1980, he has been UDI mayor in Issy–les-Moulineaux. This is a small town with nearly 70,000 people, located in the south-west Paris. Since 1983, he is vice-president for Greater Paris and head the Syndicat des eaux d’Ile-de France.
"I believe this is a retaliation campaign by these agents against the mayor, with whom there's a dispute. His lawyer said that they are unhappy with the administrative situation and had filed a complaint.
According to the newspaper reports, the mayor dismissed the complainants in May for "breaking the bonds that trust are necessary for our collaboration".
