For her last city council, Isabelle Balkany ensures the show

• While Patrick Balkany was released on Wednesday, for health reasons, was held this Thursday the last municipal council of the "Balkany era".
• Patrick Balkany was mayor of Levallois-Perret from 1983 to 1995 and since 2001.
• After having long cast doubt on a new candidacy, the couple finally announced in December that they would give up representing themselves.

More than 40 minutes before, the room was already packed. The first arrivals waited almost an hour in freezing rain to be able to slip onto the red velvet benches in the great hall of the Levallois-Perret municipal council in Hauts-de-Seine. And it was not for the 36 items on the agenda - mainly various subsidies - that attracted such an audience. This Thursday evening, Isabelle Balkany, acting mayor since the incarceration of her husband, orchestrated her last municipal council. The couple, convicted at first instance for tax fraud and aggravated money laundering, announced in December - after raising doubts - to renounce a new mandate.

It starts ... Atmosphere ... When a member of the opposition, Arnaud de Courson, DVD, candidate for mayor, wants to speak #Balkany pic.twitter.com/He6SCAZ0CM

If certain citizens hoped until the last minute for the surprise visit of Patrick Balkany, released Wednesday evening for health reasons after more than five months of detention, it was only that the first assistant entered, greeted by a standing ovation. The city councilor does not sulk his happiness, takes each and for a long time in his arms, greets those whom she recognizes in the public. "I've been in a daze since yesterday," she barely lets go, before excusing the absence of her husband who must rest in anticipation of a surgical operation. "But Patrick gave me a letter for you ..."

"An exceptional leader"

For long minutes, the city councilor read the "love story" that linked her husband to Levallois-Perret, of which he was mayor between 1983 and 1995, then continuously since 2001. "In 1983, we were in a small a fallow city, left to its own devices ... ”In the audience, mostly won over by the couple, the applause increases every time Isabelle Balkany talks about her husband's feats of arms or simply pronounces her name. An assistant swallows her sobs when she talks about the end of her mandate. "Thank you for being an exceptional leader, for you, we would have won the moon," she says before sitting down heavily.

The stand-up sometimes took on the appearance of vaudeville when the board got to the heart of the matter. Used to oratorical jousting and murderous little words, Isabelle Balkany sharply rebuffed Arnaud de Courson, DVD candidate for mayor and historical opponent of the couple. Hoots were then heard in the public, without however succeeding in destabilizing the councilor. After 1 hour 45 minutes of advice, Isabelle Balkany closed the session with thunderous applause. "I haven't been mayor for a long time, but I really liked it," she said, leaving her red chair.

It starts ... Atmosphere ... When a member of the opposition, Arnaud de Courson, DVD, candidate for mayor, wants to speak #Balkany pic.twitter.com/He6SCAZ0CM

municipal

Municipales 2020 in Levallois: "Even in prison, I would have voted for him", Patrick Balkany will not be a candidate

Justice

Trial for "tax fraud": Isabelle Balkany performs the show in the absence of Patrick

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• municipal
• Patrick Balkany
• Isabelle Balkany