France – Mitterrand controversy

I paid for sex, but not with boys, Culture Minister says

Article published on the 2009-10-09 Latest update 2009-10-09 10:37 TU

Frédéric Mitterrand.
(Photo : AFP)

France’s Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand admitted to paying for sex with men while living in Thailand, but insisted that no under age boys were involved. He firmly condemned sex tourism and pedophilia during a special television appearance on Thursday to respond to the allegations.

Well before joining government, Mitterrand wrote a novel “based on autobiography” called La mauvaise vie (The Bad Life) in which he recounts being tempted by and eventually succumbing to homosexual prostitution in Bangkok.

The passage was largely ignored when the book came out in 2005, however it made headlines after Mitterrand made an impassioned defense of American filmmaker Roman Polanski, who was arrested last week on child sex charges.

His comments in support of Polanski led the far-right National Front Party to lead the criticism of Mitterrand over events in his past.

Appearing on French television Thursday evening, Mitterrand was visibly angry and far from apologetic.

“Yes, I had [sexual] relations with boys. We know that. I don’t hide it. But we must not confuse homosexuality and paedophilia, otherwise we will have really returned to the stone age”, Mitterand said.

“I was with men my age or five years younger each time and they were consenting. There was never the least bit of ambiguity. I absolutely condemn sex tourism [and] I condemn paedophilia in which I have never in any way participated," said Mitterrand.

"All the people who accuse me of that type of thing should be ashamed."

 Mitterand