Paris (AFP)

Marine Tondelier, elected opposition EELV in Hénin-Beaumont, defended Thursday in court in Paris her book published in 2017 on the frontist management of this town of Pas-de-Calais, attacked for defamation by the mayor RN Steeve Briois.

Seven passages from chapters 7 and 8 of the book "Nouvelles du Front", published on March 1, 2017, were targeted by Mr. Briois, city councilor since 2014 and vice-president of the National Rally, Bruno Bilde - then municipal deputy, now deputy - and the director general of services at the time.

In these extracts are described "the pressure exerted on the agents of the town hall close to the opposition", "the hiring of relatives and elected officials of the FN", "the surveillance of the agents" and "the insults proffered to the against the inhabitants, ”summarized the president of the 17th correctional chamber.

At the helm, Marine Tondelier, also elected since 2014, reviewed the genesis of the book.

"This city is sometimes presented as the Disneyland of the FN (now RN NDLR)", she declared, "but I also see at the time people who take full face: journalists, associations, elected representatives ".

She explained that she had carried out numerous interviews, in particular with municipal officials;

have worked with a journalist and a lawyer.

"I cross-checked everything", she assured, affirming to have "dismissed" anecdotes which "seemed far-fetched" to her.

"Everything is perfectly documented, the testimonies are there, rigorous, exhaustive", also affirmed Henri Trubert, owner of the publishing house Les bonds qui libéré (LLL), continued as is customary mainly as a publication director.

In March, Mr. Briois was largely re-elected in the first round (74.21% of the vote) at the head of this city of 27,000 inhabitants, considered one of the showcases of the RN, in front of the left list led by Ms. Tondelier ( 18.22%).

"There are 685 agents who work for the town hall, so it's true that we easily find 15 or 20 embittered," quipped the lawyer for the three plaintiffs, who were not present at the hearing.

"The political debate is legitimate and God knows if it is violent, harsh, brutal in Hénin-Beaumont. It is not without limit either", continued David Dassa Le Deist, denouncing a "militant book and only in charge ".

The prosecutor considered that the remarks could be considered as defamatory but she added that the exemption clause of the good faith could be retained, inviting the court to decide if Mrs. Tondelier had carried out, or not, a "serious investigation".

The decision was reserved for November 6.

© 2020 AFP