Violence against the deputy of the 5th constituency of Gard Alexandre Allegret-Pilot, suspended sentence requested against the defendant

Me Aurélien Vergani et le collaborateur du député Allegret-Pilot. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Le prévenu prépare sa défense avec le bâtonnier Guillaume Garcia. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Le débat juridique s’est porté sur une possible requalification des faits de violence en outrage.

As soon as the proceedings opened at the Alès criminal court this Wednesday, the presiding judge warned: “We are here to deliver justice. The court is not a political forum.”

The defendant who denies belonging to any political party or association is being prosecuted for violence against the MP for the 5th constituency of Gard, Alexandre Allegret-Pilot (UDR).

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On October 20, during the Cévennes apple and sweet onion fair, about thirty people disrupted the elected official's visit. A procession accompanied him noisily to the stands to the sound of a concert of pots and pans. Alexandre Allegret-Pilot and his closest advisor were given onion jam, and the elected official ended up being covered in flour thrown by the defendant.

The latter admitted the facts. “We wanted to show him in a humorous way that he was not welcome in Pays Viganais, Nathan explained at the bar. We had prepared a welcome, but I regret having given him so much publicity. It was a small carnival gesture.”

“You are a middle finger to democracy”

At these words, the deputy's counsel, Me Aurélien Vergani, jumped up: “You know that the deputy was elected ? More than 32,000 people voted for him, and you say that he is not legitimate to go see them, You are a middle finger to democracy.”

The public prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini points out that the defendant, a Belgian national, “should not interfere in French political life.” In his submissions, the representative of the public prosecutor clarifies his position: “Political debate is not my problem. That's what the ballot box is for. It is important to remember certain fundamental principles: the law is what allows society to exist. It sets the rules, the conditions and the prohibitions. In the courthouse, the law prevails. Throwing flour is like spitting on someone. It is a voluntary act and characterizes violence. Premeditation appears in the defendant's remarks. I note that the latter was drunk (nearly 2 g), and in a state of recidivism.”

The magistrate is demanding “4 to 5 months of suspended prison sentence and a €500 fine.”

As a civil party, Me Aurélien Vergani castigates the defendant's attitude: “Today, I am the messenger of democracy. The people of Gard expressed themselves by voting, you by flour. You don't like the result ? Too bad. And when does your carnival end? By attacking the MP, you are attacking the people of Gard.”

A waiver of sentence requested by the defense

The president of the bar Guillaume Garcia, the defendant's lawyer, seizes the opportunity: “It is not a question of violence, but at most of an insult.” The counsel argues his request for a reclassification of the facts, in order to rule out a repeat offense. “The MP did not just come to visit people, he came to pull a stunt. The defendant was his “useful idiot”. Democracy is in danger ? The MP victimized himself to the point of distorting the facts in the National Assembly. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, even spoke out on this case and came to pollute the legal debate. This throwing of flour must be observed in light of the contextual elements. A waiver of sentence may be pronounced.”

The case has been adjourned for deliberation. The decision will be rendered on March 4.