In November 2021 it was published in the French newspaper Le Monde an article entitled “Those involved in acts of sexist and sexual violence must be removed from political life”. It was co-signed by 285 women who in one way or another were related to the field of political life in France. They were members of the National Assembly, the Senate, the local government, but also workers in institutions, in ministerial offices, in parliamentarians’ offices, in political media reporting, etc. As they wrote, they decided to publish this article after finding that, in the run-up to the 2022 French presidential and parliamentary elections, a significant number of men, who had been accused and sometimes convicted of crimes such as attempted rape, sexual assault, sexist violence, domestic violence, etc., were candidates.

On the occasion of this finding, the signatories called on the political parties to assume their responsibilities. They also called on France’s political world to guarantee the healthy functioning of democracy and adequate protection for victims. A few months later, many of the authors of the article went on to found the French Observatory of sexist and sexual violence in politics. Of an Observer who studies the problem, proposes solutions and sometimes embellishes the bad texts with the weapon of humor and irony.

One of his main goals Observatory is to lose the right to be elected to those involved in serious acts of sexist violence, without the need for a final Court decision. As, for example, happens in the field of business, where an attempt to rape a female colleague is usually accompanied by the dismissal of the perpetrator and then the case takes the path of Justice.

The Observatory in question also proposes the creation of an independent Authority responsible for combating sexist violence in politics, which will in a way control the life and state of political figures on the subject, just as it happens for financial and property issues. It also proposes the mandatory training of MPs, officials and advisers, the imposition of financial sanctions against MPs with sexist tendencies, the creation of legal, financial and psychological assistance structures for victims, the rapid removal of parliamentary immunity for those accused of sexual violence coke.

However, the most important publicity of its activities was met by the Observatory months ago on the occasion of the awarding of its “awards”. “Awards” that, with strong doses of humor and irony, he awarded to political figures who, in their words, “excelled” in the fields of anti-feminism and misogyny. Like, for example, the Minister of the Interior, Géral Darmanen, who, answering a question from a female journalist, ironically told her, “calm down, madam, and everything will be fine.” He was awarded the prize “They’re all hysterical”. The price “Moustache” awarded to organizations and events where no women were present, the award “Godfather” was awarded to President Macron and the leader of the left Mélenchon who protected their close MPs, accused of sexist attitudes, while the prize “Free Harassment” it probably referred to the actress Catherine Deneuve, who claimed months ago that no flirting bothers her and that, even when it’s awkward, she doesn’t consider it a crime. The only prize not awarded was the award “Damaged Career” in the absence of candidates, announced the Observatory, which has already started counting friends and enemies.