Paris (AFP)

"I can only deplore the spectacle that is given today," regretted the spokesman of the government Wednesday after the Council of Ministers, reacting to the interim provided by Isabelle Balkany at the town hall of Levallois-Perret , sentenced like her husband for tax evasion.

"The career of the couple Balkany, the accusations they have been subjected to are shocking for elected officials who, through the representation they make of the Republic at the level of their mayor" and sometimes "within the national representation gives them in a way, an additional duty of exemplarity, "said Sibeth Ndiaye.

"I think we can be satisfied that the justice of our country knew, with the time it took, to prove and condemn the malfeasance that had been committed by these personalities," welcomed the spokesperson of the government.

"The Council of Ministers did not trigger a process of revocation" against the mayor of Levallois-Perret, she said.

Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet was surprised Sunday on the situation in Levallois where Isabelle Balkany, sentenced to three years in office and ten years ineligibility but without a warrant, succeeded her husband as first assistant in accordance with the rules. force.

"The rule of law applies as well," she admitted, but "we can find that it is shocking from the political point of view ... I find it shocking but how? ".

Patrick Balkany (LR), who has run the Levallois town hall almost continuously since 1983, was jailed Friday afternoon at the prison of Health in Paris, in the wake of his four-year prison sentence for tax evasion.

Like his wife, he was also sentenced to ten years of ineligibility and ten years of prohibition to run a company. The couple appealed.

The court found the couple Balkany guilty of not having paid the ISF between 2010 and 2015, despite assets estimated for each year to 16 million euros minimum, and to have declared income largely undervalued between 2009 and 2014.

In total, the amounts evaded are estimated by the tax authorities at more than 4 million euros in income and wealth taxes, an amount contested by the defense.

This is the first of two judgments expected after the ultra-media spring trial. For the second part, devoted to the crimes of money laundering and corruption, the deliberation is expected on October 18th.

© 2019 AFP