The political career of Patrick Balkany stops but maybe not definitively. The Paris court on Friday sentenced the mayor of Levallois-Perret to four years in prison and ten of inequality for tax evasion. But appealing the judgment and an application for release, the alderman knows that the sentence to which he was sentenced may be suspended.
He has already indicated that he will stand in the municipal elections of March 2020. In the meantime, he is replaced by his wife and first assistant, Isabelle Balkany.
Technically, he could be a candidate for municipal
Technically, if he is kept in prison, his appeal should be held within four months as provided by the law of March 2019. He could not then present himself, unless he was released. Another possible scenario, and much more favorable for him: if the elected Hauts-de-Seine is released, the trial on appeal could take place after the elections, in a period of one to two years. In this case, he could be a candidate.
Levallois-Perret has reelected mayor since 1983, almost without interruption
It remains to be seen whether the inhabitants of the city are ready to vote for him again. "I do not care what people say, I'm loved by the people of the city," Patrick Balkany said defiantly to the city council just after his trial. Levallois-Perret has re-elected mayor since 1983, almost without interruption. Even in 2001, after being convicted in 1996 for assigning municipal employees to maintain his home. He actually lost only once, in 1995.