Fresh twist in Mitterrand row

CULTURE Minister Frédéric Mitterrand is back in the spotlight after a newspaper claimed he acted as a character reference for two rapists.

Mitterrand – who has faced calls to resign after it emerged last week that he had paid for sex in Thailand – said the allegations in Le Quotidien de la Réunion were part of "a new

orchestrated campaign” against him.

The paper published a letter to a court written by Mitterrand, in which he testifies to the "good character" of two youths in La Reunion charged with the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl.

The youths were sentenced to between eight and 15 years in prison.

Mitterrand said he was godfather to one of the boys – whose mother used to be his make-up artist.

"I no longer tolerate these attacks. It's vile. It's a simple thing that I can very easily explain," he told Le Journal du Dimanche.

He said his letter attesting to their good moral character was a "gesture of compassion and generosity" to a "modest" family in "great distress".

In a further statement, Mitterrand said he would “launch legal action against those who are complicit in the latest ignominy” he has suffered.

Last week, Mitterrand was forced to explain himself after a new row broke out about his 2005 novel La Mauvaise Vie in which the central character describes paying Asian “boys” for sex.

Mitterrand told TF1 last week that he had never participated in paedophilia and he condemned sexual tourism. He said: “Each time I was with people of my age. They were consenting.”

Government spokesman Luc Chatel said his colleague was the victim of a “manhunt” by the media. He told BFM TV: “The private life of Frédéric Mitterrand is none of my business.”