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Prosecutors Seek Five-Year Ineligibility for Valenciennes Mayor as Court Sets April 30 Ruling

A provisional ban could apply immediately, putting his re-election bid at risk.

Overview

  • Prosecutors requested five years of ineligibility with provisional execution, one year of home detention under electronic monitoring, and a €25,000 fine for Laurent Degallaix.
  • The court scheduled its decision for April 30, after the municipal votes on March 15 and 22 in which the mayor is a declared candidate.
  • Degallaix admitted a past intimate relationship with the complainant but denied intervening to secure her hiring or pressuring her to withdraw her complaint.
  • The hearing proceeded after the defense failed to win a postponement and later condemned the requisitions as disproportionate.
  • Penalties were also sought for three co-defendants, including two for witness tampering and one for illegal taking of interests, as the prosecutor noted Degallaix’s 2019 conviction for a similar offense.