Laetitia Avia – NICOLAS MESSYASZ / SIPA
A preliminary investigation for “public insults” of a character racist was opened after internet postings from a city councilor
Beziers (Hérault), elected from the list of Robert Ménard (various right), over the deputy
Laetitia Avia (LREM), says Raphaël Balland, the public prosecutor of Béziers.
???? # Hérault # Béziers Skid off Robert’s ex-running mate # Ménard on Facebook : #SOS #Racism alert the parquet of Béziershttps://t.co/CnvyxJ0ZMh pic.twitter.com/pKBR5ekzHG
– Midi Libre (@Midilibre) May 20, 2020
The investigation is opened on the grounds of “public insults against a person because of his origin or his membership or his non-membership of an ethnic group or a race”. “Comparing the color of a person’s skin with excrement, using vulgar language in addition, is likely to characterize such an offense”, continues the prosecution, adding that the maximum penalty incurred is one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros. The message in question has since been withdrawn.
“A racist conception of the world”
The NGO SOS Racisme reported on May 20 that it had taken legal action after a elected official sent a public message on May 14 on a social network. “These words were openly aimed at being in public space and reveal a racist worldview that one might have thought belonged to a bygone era,” said the NGO.
???? @SOS_Racism alert the public prosecutor’s office @VilleDeBeziers following the racist comments of the mayor’s former running mate, Robert Ménard.
For @d_sopo, president of @SOS_Racism, it is “gross, open racism, expressed without frills.”
▶ lire To read here: https://t.co/t8qIzaeO4h pic.twitter.com/aDF21XXZSz
– SOS Racisme (@SOS_Racisme) May 21, 2020
“The remarks are all the more inadmissible as they are made by a person who was elected and who appeared on a list in the last municipal elections and who has a certain habit of responsibility for public speaking insofar as he is in addition leader of local associations “, continued SOS Racisme, taking” note that, once again, the extreme right separates from this type of characters only on the only condition that the outrageous and illegal remarks risk creating scandal “.
Robert Ménard, re-elected in the first round mayor of Béziers on March 15, demanded on May 19 the resignation of this elected official, 35th on his list. The investigations were entrusted by the public prosecutor’s office to the Béziers police station.
