Revolting deputies demand the resignation of the president of the High Council for Equality, accused of sexist and racist remarks

France’s Insoumise MPs demanded on Thursday the resignation of High Council for Equality (HCE) president Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, accused by internal staff of sexist or racist remarks and “toxic” management.

“The feminist struggle can only be waged in conjunction with the fight against racism and LGBT-phobia. The charges brought against Sylvie Pierre-Brossolet deprive her of the right to do this,” LFI deputies believe in a press release published on Thursday. “(Sylvie Pierre-Brossolet’s) resignation is not enough, she must tender her resignation as soon as possible,” it adds.

In a six-page letter dated January 2, 2024, published by Mediapart and seen by AFP on Monday, staff at HCE’s general secretariat say they have “frequently witnessed comments bordering on legality from the president and co-presidents.”

Management is specifically accused of making “violent comments in a humorous tone that trivialize and perpetuate rape culture and make victims feel guilty,” and “stigmatizing comments against LGBTQ+ people repeated despite warnings about it.” ” or even “racist comments.” and Islamophobic comments.”

Internal dysfunctions

More generally, the letter warns of “a number of internal dysfunctions that have gradually led to the creation of a toxic work environment and collective discontent. » Believing that they can no longer “work in peace”, the staff of the General Secretariat, in an email sent to members of the CPSU, announced their refusal to “remain on the premises [leur] collective misfortune” until action is taken.

Speaking to AFP, Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette “formally disputes” the charges against her, denounces the “desire to destabilize” her institution and says she is considering filing a complaint.

The HCE, created in 2013 as part of François Hollande’s five-year term attached to Matignon, is responsible, among other things, for producing an annual report on the state of sexism in France and for assessing public policies to promote equality between women and men.