‘He has no choice’ Emmanuel Macron’s minister urged to quit after being accused of rape

She renewed her complaint in January, sparking a preliminary probe. Mrs Spatz told police she had approached Mr Darmanin in 2009 seeking legal help, but that she had felt “pressured into sex” when he touched her hand and said: “You too must help me”.

Mr Darmanin, a former right-wing lawmaker, has vehemently denied the accusations. His lawyers said Mrs Spatz was trying to “harm” the minister’s reputation, adding their client would file a counter-suit for slander.

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