'Don't copy French privacy laws'
Former Conservative minister David Mellor told the Leveson Inquiry that French laws on privacy had not been to the “public benefit”.
He said the “manifest unsuitability” of French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn – a former head of the International Monetary Fund who was accused of sexually assaulting a maid in New York – had been “concealed” because of a “culture of privacy” in France.
The charge against Mr Strauss-Kahn was later dropped.
Mr Mellor said Mr Strauss-Kahn might be president of France but for his “ill-judged lunge” in an American hotel.
“It’s extraordinary to think that but for an ill-judged lunge at a maid in a New York hotel, which was impossible to hush up, Dominique Strauss-Kahn might now be president of France,” said Mr Mellor.
“Strauss-Kahn’s manifest unsuitability for office is now obvious, but for years was concealed from the French public because of the laws and culture of privacy in France.
“Tempting though it is to think that minor sexual peccadilloes should always remain private, the existence of that rule in France has manifestly not been to the public benefit.
“ As the conviction of President (Jacques) Chirac for corruption shows – and he’s just one of rather a long line – a culture of secrecy encourages other misbehaviour, and in France at least, the line between sexual and financial impropriety has been a fine one.
“I therefore contend there can be no blanket right to privacy without potentially disproportionate cost to the public good.”
He added: “There can however be rules that prevent Ceausescu-like excesses being employed in pursuit of stories that have no real public interest or benefit.”
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