Bordeaux (AFP)
Illegality versus legitimacy: a 500 euros fine was required Friday evening in Bordeaux against eight environmental activists who had won portraits of Emmanuel Macron in town halls in response to the government's "inaction" in the face of the climate crisis.
The criminal court will deliver its judgment on December 20.
In a room won over to their cause, 8 defendants, 4 men and 4 women, aged 21 to 62 years from diverse backgrounds - doctor, students, pensioner, carpenter teacher - were prosecuted for "meeting robbery" or aiding or abetting this offense punishable by 5 years in prison and 75,000 euros fine.
Four of them were also tried for refusing a DNA sample while in police custody.
Justice accuses them of having participated on May 28 in an operation to unhook presidential portraits in 4 town halls of the Arcachon basin (Audenge, Le Teich, Gujan-Mestras, Biganos).
This action was part of the national campaign of "non-violent disobedience" launched in February by the ecological group Action non-violent ANV-Cop21, with an assessment of 134 official portraits "requisitioned" in France.
"Our action is like a horn blow (...) we decided to challenge the government by the means we have of ordinary citizens", defended Laurent Freyss, carpenter of 49 years, before a court manifestly relaxed and sometimes joker.
But behind this "noble and altruistic" theft, there is indeed a "characterized" offense, said prosecutor Amélie Pison, emphasizing on the one hand the existence of the intentional element - appropriation - and dismissing d on the other hand the state of necessity, a cause of criminal exemption in the event of imminent danger.
She also demanded a 150 euro fine for refusing DNA samples.
Faced with a loss of "8 euros per painting" - the price of reproduction - the defense denounced "a riot of means of investigation" and a "bad sign for the rule of law".
Ophelie Berrier, the defendants' lawyer with Nathalie Noël, called on the court to render a "courageous" decision by "erasing the illegality of an action in favor of its legitimacy".
Outside the court, supporters of the activists had deployed banners during the day to announce a "trial of state climate inaction".
The "symbolic" actions of dropping out, according to the collective, have so far given rise to disparate judgments since June: on the one hand, firm or suspended fines in Paris and in the Ain, on the other hand released for default "of intentional element" in Strasbourg and "state of necessity" and "legitimate" action in Lyon.
According to the collective, ten trials of activists are scheduled in the coming weeks and in 2020.
© 2019 AFP