Sunday, during the second round, the candidate had broadcast a sequence where he declared himself an “abstainer before the ballot box” in his polling station in Lourdios-Ichère. The Constitutional Council has decided to cancel the result of the Béarnaise commune.
Jean Lassalle’s sketch was obviously not to the taste of the Constitutional Council. In their proclamation this Wednesday of the official results of the presidential election, the magistrates notably invalidated the results of the second round in the commune of Lourdios-Ichère. In question: the theatrical staging of the abstention of Jean Lassalle in the town hall which he chaired for forty years. The candidate involves in his setbacks 90 citizens of the village and their votes cast, since none of their ballots will be taken into account.
As a reminder, Jean Lassalle had mimed in front of the ballot box the gesture of the vote before slipping his “white slip” in his pocket, declaring himself publicly and in front of cameras “abstentionist at the ballot box”, then broadcast the sequence on social networks. The national campaign control commission was alerted in the process.
The legal snag in question: “The provisions of article L. 49 of the electoral code prohibiting the dissemination of messages of an electoral propaganda nature the day before and on election day.” What Jean Lassalle has “misunderstood” with his video, according to the decision of the Constitutional Council, adding that “on the other hand, by his behavior, [il a] undermined the respect due to the dignity of the electoral operations in which he took part as a candidate in the first round”.
Enough to “altering the sincerity of the ballot in this commune”, judged the magistrates. Criminal proceedings may be initiated regardless of this decision.
The deputy of Pyrénées-Atlantiques was quick to react, publicly broadcasting on Twitter Wednesday evening his letter addressed to the President of the Constitutional Council, Laurent Fabius, letter in which he makes his mea culpa: “I apologize to the office present, to all the citizens of the municipality of Lourdios-Ichère, for the greatest dishonor they have had to suffer, because of me, since the municipality has existed.”
Jean Lassalle also asks the institution to “lift the penalty” inflicted on the village, “which is strictly for nothing” and says he is ready to to answer publicly for [son] act and pay the possible consequences provided for by law., from a fine to imprisonment. A new absurd com stunt in perspective.