PARIS, France (CNN)  -- French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said Thursday he will not resign over accounts in a book he wrote in 2005 about paying to have sex with "boys" in Thailand.



Frederic Mitterrand admitted to paying for sex with  "boys" in his 2005 autobiography, "The Bad Life."



In an interview with French television network TF1, Mitterrand said he "absolutely condemn[s] sexual tourism, which is a disgrace, and ... pedophilia," in which he insisted he has never participated.



Despite the use of the French word "garcon" in his 2005 book "The Bad Life," Mitterrand, 62, has previously said the term did not mean "little boys." He said the males he paid for sex were his age, or maybe five years younger, but not underage -- and the relations were consensual.



"Anyway, you can recognize someone who's 40 years old ..." he told TF1. A 40-year-old man "doesn't look like a minor," he added, suggesting that his partners were middle-aged men.



His actions, Mitterrand said, were "without a doubt, an error," but "a crime, no," he said in the interview.



Despite recent calls to resign from the far-right National Front and the left-leaning Socialist Party, Mitterrand, who is openly gay, vowed to stay in his job. He said he met Thursday morning with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and that the president supports him.



In a July interview with the weekly French news magazine Le Nouvel Observateur, Sarkozy said he had read Mitterrand's book, and found it "courageous and talented."



The controversy over the revelations in his book -- which he called neither autobiography nor memoir -- erupted anew after Mitterrand deplored the arrest last week of filmmaker Roman Polanski, who fled the United States in 1977 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl.



The culture minister told TF1 that he was "too emotional" when he denounced the filmmaker's arrest in Switzerland as "horrifying."



"To see him thrown to the lions for an old story that really has no meaning, and to see him alone, imprisoned, when he was going to attend a ceremony where he was to be honored, that is to say, he was trapped, it's absolutely horrifying," he said October 4, according to Agence France Presse.



The far-right National Front organized an anti-Mitterrand demonstration in Paris on Thursday evening.



"Send this message on to everyone who will not put up with this indecency!" the party's Web site said.



The party's vice president, Marine Le Pen, has demanded Mitterrand's resignation for what she termed his sexually deviant acts. Mitterrand responded, saying, "It's an honor to be dragged through the mud by the National Front."



Mitterrand's acts of "sexual tourism" have left "a dark smudge" on the government, Le Pen said.



The group is also gathering signatures on a petition, online and on paper, from those who want Mitterrand to step down.



"We really hope he will resign," National Front communications director Julien Sanchez told CNN.



"It's an embarrassment for our country, that our culture minister has done this. It affects our international image. It's not right," he added.  Watch report on the controversy surrounding French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand »



On the other side of the political spectrum, the left-leaning Socialist Party suggested Sarkozy should consider Mitterrand's position.



"It's up to President Sarkozy to decide whether or not we can be involved in the fight against child prostitution and sexual tourism, and whether or not the acts written in an autobiography -- written by a minister -- are acts of sexual commerce," said party spokesman Benoit Hamon.



"If everything is relative and Mr. Mitterrand can be excused because he's famous, well, I don't excuse his behavior," Hamon said.



Martine Aubry, the
PARIS , France ( CNN ) -- French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said Thursday he will not resign over accounts in a book he wrote in 2005 about paying to have sex with " boys " in Thailand . Frederic Mitterrand admitted to paying for sex with " boys " in his 2005 autobiography , " The Bad Life . " In an interview with French television network TF1 , Mitterrand said he " absolutely condemn[s ] sexual tourism , which is a disgrace , and ... pedophilia , " in which he insisted he has never participated . Despite the use of the French word " garcon " in his 2005 book " The Bad Life , " Mitterrand , 62 , has previously said the term did not mean " little boys . " He said the males he paid for sex were his age , or maybe five years younger , but not underage -- and the relations were consensual . " Anyway , you can recognize someone who 's 40 years old ... " he told TF1 . A 40-year - old man " does n't look like a minor , " he added , suggesting that his partners were middle - aged men . His actions , Mitterrand said , were " without a doubt , an error , " but " a crime , no , " he said in the interview . Despite recent calls to resign from the far - right National Front and the left - leaning Socialist Party , Mitterrand , who is openly gay , vowed to stay in his job . He said he met Thursday morning with French President Nicolas Sarkozy , and that the president supports him . In a July interview with the weekly French news magazine Le Nouvel Observateur , Sarkozy said he had read Mitterrand 's book , and found it " courageous and talented . " The controversy over the revelations in his book -- which he called neither autobiography nor memoir -- erupted anew after Mitterrand deplored the arrest last week of filmmaker Roman Polanski , who fled the United States in 1977 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year - old girl . The culture minister told TF1 that he was " too emotional " when he denounced the filmmaker 's arrest in Switzerland as " horrifying . " " To see him thrown to the lions for an old story that really has no meaning , and to see him alone , imprisoned , when he was going to attend a ceremony where he was to be honored , that is to say , he was trapped , it 's absolutely horrifying , " he said October 4 , according to Agence France Presse . The far - right National Front organized an anti - Mitterrand demonstration in Paris on Thursday evening . " Send this message on to everyone who will not put up with this indecency ! " the party 's Web site said . The party 's vice president , Marine Le Pen , has demanded Mitterrand 's resignation for what she termed his sexually deviant acts . Mitterrand responded , saying , " It 's an honor to be dragged through the mud by the National Front . " Mitterrand 's acts of " sexual tourism " have left " a dark smudge " on the government , Le Pen said . The group is also gathering signatures on a petition , online and on paper , from those who want Mitterrand to step down . " We really hope he will resign , " National Front communications director Julien Sanchez told CNN . " It 's an embarrassment for our country , that our culture minister has done this . It affects our international image . It 's not right , " he added . Watch report on the controversy surrounding French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand » On the other side of the political spectrum , the left - leaning Socialist Party suggested Sarkozy should consider Mitterrand 's position . " It 's up to President Sarkozy to decide whether or not we can be involved in the fight against child prostitution and sexual tourism , and whether or not the acts written in an autobiography -- written by a minister -- are acts of sexual commerce , " said party spokesman Benoit Hamon . " If everything is relative and Mr. Mitterrand can be excused because he 's famous , well , I do n't excuse his behavior , " Hamon said . Martine Aubry , the
What does hte minister condemn?
What does hte minister condemn ?
sexual tourism,
sexual tourism,