Bobigny (AFP)
The trial of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and five of his relatives for the incidents that sparked the search of the headquarters of LFI in October opens Thursday in Bobigny in an electric climate, fueled by the accusations of "instrumentalization" of justice.
For several weeks, the leader of the Insoumis denounces a "political trial", says no longer "believe in justice" and judges magistrates "liars".
In response, Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet lambasted "unacceptable" remarks, accusing Mr. Mélenchon of being "invective" and "conspiracy".
Thursday morning, surrounded by his tricolor scarf of elected, Jean-Luc Mélenchon remained silent on his arrival at the court of Bobigny - where the case was disorientated "for the sake of impartiality", according to the prosecutor general of Paris.
The Bouches-du-Rhône MP left one of his co-rapporteurs, MP Alexis Corbière, to speak.
"All this is out of the ordinary, disproportionate from the beginning including this summons," said the latter. "We will hear arguments (...) that will make it clear that from the beginning this matter is political".
Around them and dozens of journalists present, fifty supporters were gathered before the TGI Bobigny, whose doors, closed, were guarded by police.
"Resistance! Resistance!", They started shouting at the arrival of the defendants, before starting a Marseillaise.
Mr. Mélenchon and his five co-defendants - including Bastien Lachaud MP and MEP Manuel Bompard - appear for "intimidation of a magistrate and a depositary of public authority, rebellion and provocation".
The trial, scheduled for two days, should begin at 9:30, and they incur up to 10 years in prison, a fine of 150,000 euros and 5 years ineligibility.
Rumors about a possible request to dismiss the hearing, however, circulated in court. "I learn this morning that this will be one of the demands (?), We will oppose it extremely firmly (?) We will not accept the referral," said lawyer Corbiere, Jade Dousselin, on BFMTV. "Our clients want to be judged today".
On October 16, 2018, Mr. Mélenchon vehemently opposed the search carried out at his party's headquarters in Paris as part of two investigations by the Paris prosecutor's office: on the accounts of the 2017 presidential campaign and on the conditions of the employment of MEPs from insubordinate France - now entrusted to investigating judges.
That day, the leader of the party, filming live on Facebook the search of his home, had first denounced a "huge political police operation". He then went with relatives to the headquarters of the movement, where another search had turned to confrontation.
In front of cameras, he had called his family to "break the door" to enter the premises where the search was ongoing, claiming in particular: "The Republic is me!". He was also seen shaking up a representative of the prosecution and a police officer who was trying to intervene.
- Parallel with Lula -
Police and magistrates are among the civil parties.
Me François Saint-Pierre, who represents five officials of the Central Office for the fight against corruption and financial and fiscal offenses, however, calls for "a debate in the serenity and respect" at the trial.
"I wish to respond to Mr. Mélenchon that my clients are police officers who act in a republican spirit," says the lawyer who will share the bench of civil parties including Eric Dupond-Moretti.
Before approaching his trial, the former presidential candidate said he was "concerned" by receiving Dilma Rousseff, the former president of the left of Brazil who visited him in the National Assembly.
A few weeks earlier, Mr. Mélenchon took advantage of his trip to Latin America to visit former Brazilian president Lula in prison and draw a parallel between their two situations.
According to Mr. Mélenchon, both undergo the "lawfare", a practice of political instrumentalization of justice to muzzle the oppositions.
This position of the movement is in the direct line of anti-system rhetoric, openly populist, involving an "oligarchy" pulling the strings.
© 2019 AFP