Cécile Duflot

During the 2019 defamation trial linked to the Denis Baupin affair, Cécile Duflot testified that she herself had resisted an attempted sexual assault by Baupin in 2008. She also acknowledged that, as an environmentalist leader, she had received warnings, sometimes indirectly, about inappropriate behaviour and retrospectively regretted having minimised some disclosures instead of taking stronger action.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Cécile Duflot promoted the ALUR law, including rent controls and other rules applying to landlords, co-owned buildings and property professionals. Property industry organisations fiercely opposed several measures, accusing them of discouraging investment and construction. After she left government, Manuel Valls restricted several provisions, particularly the implementation of rent controls.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Faced with the emergency accommodation crisis, Cécile Duflot announced that she might use procedures to requisition vacant homes and buildings, including certain properties owned by legal entities. Her remarks mentioning the Archdiocese of Paris prompted an irritated response from the Church, while housing charities subsequently criticised the slow implementation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

A longstanding opponent of the Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport project, Cécile Duflot remained a minister in a government intending to pursue it. This dual position prompted criticism of the consistency and usefulness of EELV's participation in government, including from within her own party.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Cécile Duflot publicly challenged Manuel Valls's statements that only a minority of Roma families could integrate into French society. The confrontation between the ministers escalated to the point that François Hollande reminded his government of its obligations of responsibility, solidarity and collective decision-making.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Three weeks after becoming Housing Minister, Cécile Duflot reiterated her support for legalising cannabis, an EELV position contrary to that of François Hollande and the government. UMP denounced government 'discord', and Jean-Marc Ayrault publicly distanced himself from her position.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

While answering a question in the National Assembly, Cécile Duflot was greeted by whistles, laughter and comments from MPs about her floral dress. The incident became emblematic of sexism in political life.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

In summer 2012, opponents accused Cécile Duflot of favouring environmentalist friends or officials in recommendations for the Legion of Honour. The controversy fuelled criticism of partisan favouritism during her first weeks as minister.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Under Cécile Duflot's leadership, EELV negotiated a governing agreement and an electoral agreement with the Socialist Party for the 2012 legislative elections. Discussions were particularly contentious over the Flamanville EPR, reducing nuclear power and reserving constituencies for environmentalist candidates, fuelling accusations of trading manifesto commitments for seats.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated