Three preliminary investigations are underway concerning the town hall of Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) for illegal taking of interest, concussion, breaches of regulations on weapons and forgery and use of forgery, we learned Tuesday from the Attorney for the Republic of Angers, Eric Bouillard.

Two surveys were launched in the first quarter.

A first "for irregular use of weapons during a period in the municipal police of Cholet" and a second for a call for tenders concerning the village hall of Cholet, in 2020, according to Eric Bouillard.

Three million allowances for elected officials too much?

The third investigation concerns suspicions of concussion (illicit collection of money by an official) and is linked to a complaint from the anti-corruption association Anticor, filed before the summer, concerning "the calculation of the compensation of elected officials since 2008 », Specified Eric Bouillard.

According to Anticor's complaint, there would be "three million euros of overpayment for 12 years", he added.

The three preliminary investigations, entrusted to the Angers judicial police, gave rise to a day of search at the town hall of Cholet on August 18.

The purpose of this search was to recover notes and documents with the aim in particular "of knowing at what level the decisions were taken" concerning the alleged facts, explained the prosecutor.

Elections in September

The search took place in the presence of the prefect's delegate and in the absence of the mayor, the municipal elections of Cholet having been canceled by decision of the Council of State on July 20.

One of the lists had not been constituted in a regular manner, had ruled the Council of State, undermining "the sincerity of the ballot".

The new municipal elections will take place on September 19 and 26.

The voters of Cholet will therefore have to elect 45 municipal councilors and 30 community councilors representing the municipality within the agglomeration community of Choletais.

In June 2020, Gilles Bourdouleix (DVD), mayor since 1995, was re-elected with 53.95% of the vote in this city of about 53,000 inhabitants.

The list behind the annulment of the ballot had obtained 46.04%.

Justice

Cholet: The municipal election is canceled, we will have to vote again

Sport

Coronavirus: Match lost on the green carpet for Cholet, its mayor is angry

  • Corruption

  • Town hall

  • Cholet

  • Justice