The President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, asked on Monday, November 20, Senator Joël Guerriau (Horizons) to “withdraw from all his activities linked to his mandate”, after the indictment of the parliamentarian suspected of having drugged a member of parliament with a view to sexually assaulting him.
“It is now up to Mr. Joël Guerriau to take his responsibilities, while justice and the police services can clarify the facts,” said the Senate presidency in a press release, emphasizing “the extreme seriousness of the acts alleged against the senator and [the] principle of dignity which attaches to the exercise of the parliamentary mandate.” Mr. Larcher more particularly invited Mr. Guerriau “to resign from his functions as secretary of the Senate Office and vice-president of the foreign affairs committee.”
Loire-Atlantique senator Joël Guerriau, 66, was indicted on Friday evening, suspected of having drugged Sandrine Josso, 48, elected MP (MoDem) from the same department, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday without his knowledge, with a view to sexually assaulting him, accusations denied by his lawyer.
Suspended by his party and his parliamentary group
Samples revealed the presence in the victim’s body of ecstasy, a drug also found during a search of Mr. Guerriau’s home. He was therefore also indicted for “use and possession of narcotics”, and placed under judicial supervision, including a ban on going to the MP’s home.
At the same time, political sanctions quickly fell against Mr. Guerriau, suspended on Saturday in turn by his political party Horizons, then by his parliamentary group (Les Indépendants), both of which opened disciplinary procedures which could lead to his exclusion.
The president of the communist group in the Senate, Cécile Cukierman, approved Gérard Larcher’s request. “In order for the investigation to proceed peacefully, out of respect for the complainant and out of respect for the institution, withdrawal is appropriate. “It’s the least we can do, without prejudging the results of the investigation,” she said.
