The national secretary of EELV followed Yannick Jadot’s advice and stepped back. Julien Bayou, accused of moral harassment by his ex-girlfriend, announced this Monday morning his resignation from his post as national secretary of Europe Écologie-Les Verts (EELV) and from the presidency of the environmental group in the National Assembly, denouncing an “untenable” situation in a press release.
“I am accused of facts which are not presented to me, of which my accusers-ices say that they are not criminally reprehensible, and which I cannot therefore defend myself since they refuse to hear me”, explained Julien Bayou, specifying that he will hold a press conference at 4 p.m.
An “untenable” situation
“This situation is untenable and the deleterious context seems to prevent any discernment, at a time when society is rocking and seeking the point of balance for this so necessary feminist revolution”, he added, stressing that his decision “does not challenge in question” nor his mandate as a deputy nor his “present and future commitment”.
For several days, the green party had been shaken by accusations of moral harassment against Julien Bayou by an ex-companion. The testimony in a Monday program of MP Sandrine Rousseau, who met this ex-companion, led the environmental group in the National Assembly to suspend Julien Bayou from his co-presidency.
Internal referendum
The ex-candidate of the Greens for the presidential Yannick Jadot had invited Julien Bayou on Sunday to put himself “withdrawn” from the national secretariat of EELV.
The resignation of the secretary general also occurs the day after the rejection by the Greens of an internal referendum to simplify the organization and adapt EELV to the “conquest of power”, which was supported by the party leadership, plunging the environmental training in the crisis.