CNN
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French government minister Marlene Schiappa was criticized by members of her own party after appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine.
Schiappa, a government minister since 2017, appeared on the magazine's cover with a 12-page interview about women and LGBT rights. She was photographed on the cover wearing a white dress by Skiapas, who currently serves as Minister of Social Economy and the French Association.
Schiapa has long been an advocate for women's rights and was appointed the country's first Minister for Women and Equalities in 2017. In this role, she successfully led the passage of new sexual harassment laws that would result in instant fines for men who commit sexual harassment. Catcalling, harassing, or following women on the street.
Her appearance drew criticism from political colleagues, including French Prime Minister Elisabeth Born.
Citing a source close to the prime minister, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported that Vaughn pulled Schiapa onto the cover and said it was “inappropriate, especially during this time.”
France is currently in the midst of a political and social crisis sparked by President Emmanuel Macron pushing ahead with controversial pension reforms despite widespread public opposition.
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“We are in a social crisis, we have security issues, there are people between life and death, and it feels like we are behind a smokescreen.” Green Party politician and fellow women's rights activist Sandrine Rousseau told BFMTV on Friday.
French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who finished third in the 2022 presidential election, criticized both Schiapa's appearance and French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to give an interview to children's magazine Peep Gazette this week.
“In a country where the president expresses himself in Pif and the minister expresses himself in Playboy, the problem will be the opposition. France is off the rails,” Mélenchon tweeted on Saturday.
Schiapa addressed his critics on Saturday: “Advocating for women’s right to control their own bodies is possible anytime, anywhere. In France, women are free. “With due respect she treats detractors and hypocrites.”
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin defended Shiite in an interview with French news channel CNews on Sunday, calling her a “woman of character.”
He said, “I wanted to say that Marlene Schiapa is a brave female politician with her own personality and a different style from mine, but I respect her.”