The former Vice President of France’s Lower House of parliament will be the target of a preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, a French prosecutor said on Tuesday. Denis Baupin, formerly of the country’s Green Party (EELV), stepped down from his post of deputy speaker of the National Assembly amid accusations of sexual misconduct, which he denied. Eight women told investigative news site Mediapart and broadcaster France Inter that they had been sexually harassed by Baupin, including EELV spokeswoman Sandrine Rousseau. Rousseau alleged that Baupin groped her and tried forcefully to kiss her in 2011. Meanwhile, Baupin denied the allegations as defamatory and completely unfounded in a statement released by his lawyer. However his wife, Housing Minister Emmanuelle Cosse, said on France radio that the allegations against Baupin should be judged in court. (dpa/NAN)
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