Far-left MP Hugo Prévost has resigned after being expelled from the La France Insoumise (LFI) parliamentary group amid serious sexual misconduct allegations.
The 25-year-old socialist MP for Isère, who had only been in office since July, stepped down on Wednesday following accusations of sexual behavior that could constitute criminal offenses. The allegations surfaced after an internal inquiry by the LFI’s Vigilance Committee against Sexist and Sexual Violence (CVSS).
Prévost, who was excluded from the socialist LFI-Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) group on Tuesday, announced his resignation via social media.
“I measure the seriousness of the accusations made against me,” Prévost stated in a post on X. “I have defended myself against them. I will not respond publicly. No personal destiny must hinder our collective tools,” he said, implying he was standing down for the greater good of the party.
“I never sought to harm the integrity of my comrades, and I want first of all to apologize to all those involved in the campaign for the shock they may have experienced in recent hours,” he added.
The allegations against Prévost, which date back to before his election, were first reported to the LFI group by the CVSS on Sept. 23. According to the CVSS, the claims involve “serious acts of a sexual nature” backed by multiple testimonies. On Oct. 2, Prévost was questioned by party officials, who concluded that the “seriousness of the alleged facts and their systemic nature” warranted his expulsion.
“Our decisions on matters of sexist and sexual violence are precautionary and protective,” read a statement from the LFI-NFP parliamentary group, noting that it is not a court of law and is not there to pass judgment on any criminal proceedings that may follow.
“The courts may be contacted if the persons concerned decide to do so and the CVSS is available to support them if necessary,” it added.
The scandal deepened with a public statement from the Student Union, which Prévost co-founded. The union condemned Prévost for “acts of moral and sexual harassment” and “patterns of predation,” alleging that these behaviors spanned from 2020 to 2024. In their statement, the organization accused Prévost of a “desire for sexual and political control over women” and called for his immediate resignation, further stating that the misconduct had been known to some for “several months or even several years.”
LFI, led by former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of sexual misconduct within its ranks, with critics questioning how the party can continue to claim to hold progressive and feminist values.
The party was rocked by a similar scandal in 2022 involving MP Adrien Quatennens, who returned to parliament after a domestic violence conviction.
The news of Prévost’s resignation comes just a week after an activist and former candidate for the far-left party in Nantes was indicted on charges of rape and torture of a disabled 4-year-old girl.
The 32-year-old former LFI member, Pierre-Alain Cottineau, was placed in pre-trial detention last week after admitting to the allegations during police custody.
Cottineau admitted to the rape during police questioning, also revealing that he has “pedophile inclinations.” He is facing charges of “rape with acts of torture or barbarism” and “sexual assault on a minor under 15 by a person in authority,” as well as the possession and distribution of child pornography.
Last month, Sophia Chikirou, a prominent MP for the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) and close ally of leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, was indicted for aggravated fraud and abuse of corporate assets in connection with the party leader’s 2017 presidential campaign accounts.
