Martine Vassal must face suspicions of proxy fraud less than two weeks before the second round of municipal elections in Marseille. - Clément Mahoudeau / AFP

  • After suspicion of proxy fraud in her camp, candidate LR, Martine Vassal, defended herself from being a fraudster.
  • For Benoit Payan, candidate for the Printemps de Marseille, Martine Vassal is "losing her means" in the face of these revelations.
  • For sociologist Jean Viard, the consequences on the ballot should be limited, but these suspicions open the door to remedies after the vote.

An attempt to counter attack with the smell of wet firecrackers. The candidate of the Republicans for municipal elections in Marseille, Martine Vassal, reacted after the opening of a preliminary investigation by the Marseilles public prosecutor's office for “fraudulent maneuvers tending to the irregular exercise of proxy votes” as well as “false and customary false ". France 2 and Marianne revealed on June 11 a possible fraud with the proxies on behalf of running mates of Martine Vassal, who proposed to carry out proxies without passing before a judicial police officer, and without signature of the interested party.

Monday, on BFMTV, she defended herself from all attempts at fraud. “I am not a fraudster, I have never been a fraudster and it is not now that I want to start being one. Yes, an investigation has been opened. I want the investigators to look everywhere and everywhere, even among the competitors. ” Before announcing that "if proven facts are confirmed, I will take my responsibilities I will be intractable on these facts and the people who committed them".

Radio silence

If running mats seem to be in question, figures of the Marseillaise right are also. Like Yves Moraine, president of the LR majority at the town hall, and head of the list in the 6th and 8th arrondissements. He admitted that he was the source of an email in which he offered his help in carrying out proxies. While claiming to ignore that it was outlawed. Contacted by 20 Minutes , he "has nothing to add to what Martine Vassal said". Valérie Boyer, whose running mate is suspected of being involved, and spokesperson for Martine Vassal, remained on the phone on Tuesday.

My reaction to @BFMTV following accusations of proxy fraud. I am not a fraudster. Yes an investigation is open, in which I show total transparency.https: //t.co/p29ZnYqQHY

- Martine Vassal 2020 (@ Vassal2020) June 15, 2020

When speaking on BFMTV, Martine Vassal also demanded the cancellation of all the powers of the second round to the Minister of the Interior. Problem, as revealed by France 3, the Minister of the Interior does not have the power to cancel powers of attorney. It is up to Martine Vassal to seize a judge to investigate presumed fraudulent powers of attorney from her own party.

"Ultra-left"

Last part of her answer, candidate LR brandished the threat of the ultra-left with the Printemps marseillais. Accusing its activists of being behind the unrest in the city center after the demonstration against police violence on Saturday. "Hundreds of ultra-left activists, very involved in the Marseille Spring campaign, defied the police and sowed desolation in the city center, burning shops and degrading public spaces" , she wrote on her campaign site.

Madame Vassal, I'm not used to getting out of the political arena, but I'm starting to worry about you.
Oit Either you have lost control of your campaign.
Oit Either you have lost your temper.
➡️In both cases pull yourself together! https://t.co/OhQNEWyly0

- Benoît Payan (@BenoitPayan) June 15, 2020

Benoit Payan, head of the Printemps de Marseille list in the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements, says he is "amazed to see the candidate on the right lose her temper at this point. She, who relied on opinion makers who saw her win easily, loses her means when faced with the slightest difficulty. ” However, he regrets that through these suspicions Martine Vassal again "point the finger at Marseille, when the city is already too used to it".

Possible remedies

An opinion shared by Jean Viard, sociologist and municipal councilor in Marseille from 2008 to 2014. “It is certainly not a plus for Martine Vassal, but the rate of abstention that is looming seems as high as in first round. The people who move will be people who are already hyper-motivated. Unless it is proven that Martine Vassal is directly involved, but the time for justice is too short. What makes me sick is that it once again discredits the Marseille political class. The real risk is to further disgust citizens of politics, and to strengthen the far right, ”he considers. He nevertheless imagines possible remedies after the election, if the differences in votes are very close.

Results of the municipal elections in Marseille

Faced with this eventuality, the Marseilles Spring proceeds to a citizen control of the proxies. "The file we have is incomplete, we hope to receive it from the town hall before Wednesday noon. Our goal is to hold the second round, and that everything will go well on the 28th, ”says Benoit Payan. Le Printemps marseillais came out on top in the first round, ahead of Martine Vassal, after 25 years of reign of Jean-Claude Gaudin.

Municipal

Municipal in 2020 in Marseille: New searches of two LR candidates after suspicions of fraud

Municipal

Municipal in 2020 in Marseille: Faced with suspicions of fraud, Martine Vassal requests the cancellation of all the proxies for the second round

  • Marseille
  • The Republicans
  • Fraud
  • Martine Vassal
  • Elections
  • Municipal