The Book in 2005, Many Questions remain Unanswered.

Frédéric Mitterrand, a French politician and former Minister of Culture, faced significant controversy over passages in his 2005 autobiographical novel, La Mauvaise Vie (The Bad Life), where he described engaging in paid sexual encounters with “young boys” in Thailand. The book, which blends fact and fiction, includes vivid descriptions of his experiences in Bangkok’s sex trade, such as visiting brothels and being drawn to the “profusion of very attractive and immediately available young boys.” These revelations resurfaced in 2009 when Mitterrand vocally defended filmmaker Roman Polanski, who was arrested for a 1977 conviction involving the rape of a minor, prompting accusations of hypocrisy and moral misconduct.

Mitterrand consistently denied allegations of pedophilia, asserting that the term “boys” in his book referred to consenting adults, often his age or slightly younger, and not minors. In a 2009 TF1 television interview, he condemned sex tourism and pedophilia, describing his actions as a “mistake” but not a “crime,” and emphasized that his partners were consenting adults. He clarified that the book was not entirely autobiographical, blending his experiences with fictional elements, and argued it was not an apology for sex tourism but a reflection on its moral complexities.

The controversy led to calls for his resignation from both the far-right National Front and the Socialist Party, with figures like Marine Le Pen accusing him of endorsing sex tourism. Despite this, President Nicolas Sarkozy and several government officials, including Henri Guaino, supported Mitterrand, dismissing the criticism as politically motivated. A 2009 poll by BVA showed 67% of French people opposed his resignation, indicating public support for him to remain in office.

Posts on X following Mitterrand’s death in March 2024 reflect ongoing public discontent, with some users labeling him a pedophile and criticizing media for eulogizing him as a cultural figure while ignoring his Thailand controversy and support for Polanski. These sentiments, however, lack nuance and do not account for Mitterrand’s clarifications or the lack of legal evidence supporting claims of criminal behavior.

No legal charges were ever filed against Mitterrand for his actions in Thailand, and he maintained that his encounters were consensual and legal. The debate remains polarized, with critics viewing his writings as evidence of exploiting vulnerable populations, while supporters argue the book was a candid literary exploration of personal struggles, not a confession of illegal acts.