Levallois-Perret (AFP)
Coup de théâtre in Levallois-Perret: Patrick and Isabelle Balkany gave up on Wednesday to run for a sixth mandate at the head of this posh town of Hauts-de-Seine, the day of the end of their trial on appeal for tax evasion during from which firm prison and ten years of ineligibility were required against them.
"The universal suffrage of French citizens and Levallois voters is voluntarily confiscated by justice", protested the spouses in tweet from Isabelle Balkany.
"We take note of it," they announce, hinting that the future of Levallois will be played out without them.
Asked later during a press point at the town hall on the possibility that they are still present on the list of "municipal majority" in March, Ms. Balkany preferred to elude the question, refusing to answer it clearly.
The situation seemed desperate for the couple after an appeal trial during which the prosecution requested four years in prison against Patrick Balkany, four years including two suspended sentence against his wife and especially ten years of ineligibility against the two with "provisional execution" .
The deliberate planned for March 4, eleven days before the first round of municipal (March 15), weighed a sword of Damocles too threatening on their candidacy. "This deliberate is not by chance," lambasted the first deputy, because "the municipal candidacy deposits are 15 days before the elections (...) and on February 28 all the lists must be registered and validated by the prefecture".
"The decision of Patrick and Isabelle Balkany is wise for the future of Levallois", hailed for his part the elected official Arnaud de Courson (DVD), himself a candidate for mayor.
In front of the town hall, the fans of the couple of councilors always made themselves rather discreet on Wednesday evening.
Hocine 70 years old, is one of them: "As a Levalloisien, I will regret Mr. Balkany. (...) For me he is an honest man". "We will finally be able to get back to basics, with a normal municipal election", rejoiced on the contrary Philippe, 69, who has lived there for 30 years.
To lead the list of the municipal majority in the elections next March, the Balkany have chosen a young tandem. Agnès Pottier-Dumas, 34, former chief of staff of the town hall, and David-Xavier Weiss, 40, assistant delegate for youth and events, are also steadfast faithful of the couple.
- "We're going into the wall" -
Patrick Balkany, who snatched the city from the Communists in 1983, had so far constantly expressed his wish to stand for re-election despite his imprisonment in the Health prison since September 13 and his sentence to four years in prison for tax evasion.
On December 2, Isabelle Balkany reminded again during a meeting with the elected representatives of the majority that her husband wished to lead the list for the municipal elections.
From his prison, the mayor even called on his wife's laptop to thank representatives of the municipal administration present at this meeting as well as the elected officials for their work carried out on the budget.
Meanwhile, the 71-year-old councilor was hospitalized on December 12 due to an intestinal obstruction and was unable to attend part of his appeal trial. The first day, he appeared very emaciated and weakened, forcing the president to install a padded chair in the defendants' box.
On December 9, a majority historical assistant, Sylvie Ramond, had resigned in the middle of city council. "I've been working for this city for 35 years. I was loyal, loyal, but this is no longer possible. We are going into the wall," she said, expressing concern for Isabelle and Patrick Balkany .
At first instance, Patrick Balkany was given five years in prison while his wife was sentenced to three years. Again, the sentence was accompanied by a ten-year ineligibility.
© 2019 AFP