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French parliament deputy speaker resigns over sexual harassment claims

Xinhua, May 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Denis Baupin, deputy speaker of the French National Assembly, has resigned "to protect the reputation of parliament and to defend himself" after female lawmakers accused him of sexual harassment, his defense lawyer said on Monday.

"Following the accusations in the media, Baupin wants to underline that these are defamatory and baseless lies," his lawyer Emmanuel Pierrat added in a statement.

Baupin, a former member of the Greens party and the lower house of French parliament, "fundamentally challenges the allegations of sexual harassment and assault," his lawyer said.

The lawmaker's resignation came after Sandrine Rousseau, a Green party spokeswoman, accused Baupin of sexual assault.

Another female member of the party also accused the 53-year-old politician of systemic sexual assault and harassment.

Baupin is married to France's Housing Minister Emmanuelle Cosse. Enditem