Levallois-Perret (AFP)

Nearly two weeks after his resounding trial for corruption and laundering tax evasion, Patrick Balkany has offered a breath of fresh air by ensuring the show at the city council of Levallois-Perret, to the acclaim of his many citizens.

"Bravo!", Chanted the forums of the city council. The public benches are packed in spite of the sweltering heat and the Levalloisians stand up to applaud their mayor.

Patrick Balkany has just made his entry under the gold of the hall of the Levallois municipal council and tastes its popularity still intact in this town of which he is mayor since 1983.

Fans of the council beat the recall to block and show their support as the national finance court required seven years in prison with immediate imprisonment against Patrick Balkany on June 13.

The mayor, he has lost nothing of his banter and his bagout that have been the head of the newspapers during the month that lasted his trial.

Attacked by his opponent Arnaud de Courson (various right) on his probity, Balkany threat. "Mr. de Courson, pay close attention to what you say, I am very likely," he asserts.

"You have never attacked anyone in defamation, why?", Replies de Courson.

"Because I do not have enough money to pay for all the lawsuits, as I can not do it on the city wall, you see ..." Patrick Balkany smiles in his cavernous voice, in front of a hilarious audience and acquired to his cause.

"I do not care what we say, I'm loved by the Levalloisians," the 70-year-old mayor blows, arousing a round of applause and shouts of support.

- "Equal to himself" -

"For me, the political staff must renew itself and it's been a long time since you should no longer be mayor", calls in turn the socialist opponent Anne-Eugénie Faure. "You say that politics is not a profession? Well for me it's more than a profession, it's a priesthood!" Balkany answers, before making an irony about the choice of the elected representative. stop after the end of his term. "I'll regret not having you in the next city council," he says with a smile.

"He is excellent, equal to himself," enthuses the ranks of the public Nine Margallé-Guérin, the Mayor's support for 36 years. "He always has his humor and he likes people," rejoices the one for whom "we vote Balkany for what he does for the city.His privacy, we do not care".

Patrick Balkany led his city council without his wife and first assistant, who did not attend his trial after a suicide attempt in early May.

He also had to record a defection in his municipal team since his former assistant Bertrand Percie du Sert decided to sit in the opposition by joining the ranks of La République en marche (LREM).

While publicly thanking Patrick Balkany, Mr. Percie du Sert called "all those who adhere to the commitments of transparency, team spirit and probity", to join with him the benches of the opposition, under the hoots of 'a good part of the public.

? 2019 AFP