Christian Nègre, a former official at France's Ministry of Culture, is accused by nearly 250 women of drugging them with diuretics or similar substances during job interviews between 2009 and 2018 to cause chemical submission and urinary incontinence [1, 2, 3]. The accusations gained prominence after Anaïs de Vos, 27 at the time, testified she was drugged by Nègre during a 2011 interview in Paris, leading to uncontrollable urinary urgency and incontinence. She said, "I felt very weak, I could barely feel my legs, I was scared and didn’t know what was happening" and added, "At least he didn’t see me" [2].

Marie-Hélène Brice, another victim, described a similar experience during a 2016 job interview with Nègre in Strasbourg, saying, "I was extremely embarrassed, and his eyes never left me" [2, 3]. Victims reported psychological trauma and some developed lasting urinary problems after their encounters [2, 3].

Police investigations revealed that Nègre kept a detailed spreadsheet on his computer, called "Experiment P," listing alleged victims, interview dates, dosages, timing of diuretic effects, and even what underwear they wore [2, 3].

In June 2018, a colleague discovered Nègre secretly filming a woman under a desk, leading to his suspension and a criminal investigation opened by prosecutors on charges including drugging, privacy violations, and sexual assault [2, 3]. Nègre was dismissed from his Ministry post in 2019 [2, 3]. By 2019, police began contacting the alleged victims, many only then realizing they had been targeted [2, 3].

Chemical submission gained national attention in France in 2024 after a court convicted the husband of Gisele Pelicot for drugging her and enabling assaults [1, 2, 3]. Senator Sandrine Josso, advocating for victims, stated, "People are taking action; victims are reporting more cases and filing complaints, which is important" [3]. She has launched pilot schemes allowing sample testing without filing police complaints [2, 3].

Nègre denies all accusations through his lawyer and declined further comment [2, 3]. Prosecutors formally announced an ongoing investigation into Nègre in February 2026, with trial pending [2, 3].