Marine Rosset Steps Down Amid Scouts and Guides France Crisis

Marine Rosset Resigns from Scouts and Guides of France Amid Mounting Controversy

Less than two months into her presidency, Marine Rosset has stepped down as head of the Scouts and Guides of France (SGDF), citing increasing tensions and personal attacks. The 39-year-old Parisian, a member of the Socialist Party, was elected in June. An advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom, Rosset became a lightning rod for criticism from conservative groups and far-right media. In an interview with La Croix, she explained her decision: “I chose to step back… the situation had become untenable. My priority is to protect the movement and my family, which is why I’ve decided to resign.”

Personal Views Used to Distort Organization’s Image

Rosset expressed frustration that her personal convictions were manipulated to portray the SGDF in a misleading light. “After the election, people started using opinions I’d previously shared as weapons, creating a false image of what the Scouts and Guides of France stand for,” she explained. Attacks on her sexual orientation, she added, were particularly painful. “What upset me the most,” she said, “was when people questioned my faith simply because I’m a lesbian. That’s deeply hurtful.”

Election Politics Deepen Tensions

The controversy intensified following the announcement of a special legislative election in Rosset’s home district, where she had run as a candidate in both 2022 and 2024. The political spotlight, she said, made it more difficult to engage in public discourse without further politicizing the organization. “It became evident that the scouting movement should not be defined by my personal background. It represents something much greater. I didn’t want my presence to detract from its mission,” Rosset noted.

Left-Wing Leaders Rally Behind Rosset

Rosset’s decision sparked swift reactions from progressive political leaders. On social media platform X, Socialist MP and Paris mayoral hopeful Emmanuel Grégoire expressed solidarity, decrying the “unacceptable insults, hatred, and blatant homophobia” she endured. Fellow Socialist MP Boris Vallaud, Court of Auditors President Pierre Moscovici, and Socialist Party Secretary General Pierre Jouvet echoed similar sentiments, condemning the “harassment campaign” that targeted her. Communist Senator Ian Brossat also spoke out, criticizing the “homophobic backlash” and accusing the political right of being “silent accomplices” in the face of far-right attacks.

Scouts and Guides of France Reaffirm Political Neutrality

In an official statement, SGDF leadership confirmed that Rosset’s departure was a step toward safeguarding the organization’s commitment to political neutrality. They also firmly condemned the torrent of hateful messages directed at their outgoing president. “Violent, discriminatory, or dehumanizing rhetoric—particularly homophobic speech—is fundamentally at odds with our organizational values,” the statement read. SGDF voiced full support for Rosset’s legal complaint, filed in Paris in early July, and noted that the association is considering its own legal response.

Leadership Transition and the Future of SGDF

Although she has resigned as president, Marine Rosset will remain involved with the SGDF in her capacity as an administrator. In the wake of her resignation, Pierre Monéger has assumed the role of interim president, leading a newly established shared governance structure. With over 100,000 members, SGDF remains France’s largest scouting organization—significantly larger than the more conservative Scouts Unitaires de France and Scouts d’Europe.