Montauban (AFP)
The mayor of Montauban Brigitte Barèges (LR), sentenced Tuesday to five years of ineligibility by the Toulouse Criminal Court in a case of embezzlement of public funds, denounced Wednesday during a press conference "a political trap".
"I am the victim of a political trap into which I naively fell", declared at the town hall of Montauban Mrs. Barèges, the day after her conviction with immediate effect.
One of the defenders of Ms. Barèges, Me Jean-Luc Forget, told AFP of his intention to appeal, however under the "provisional execution", the appeal does not suspend the application of the sentence pronounced at first instance.
The 67-year-old elected, unable to keep her seat, indicated that her first deputy, Axel De Labriolle, would be the next mayor of Montauban, "if the elected representatives of the majority follow", she added. .
In addition to the ineligibility penalty, the criminal court sentenced the elected to 12 months suspended prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros.
"My reason for living was my mandate, my city," said sobs in the voice of the one who had been mayor of the prefecture of Tarn-et-Garonne since 2001.
However, Ms. Barèges "does not admit beaten", affirming: "I hope a lot from this appeal".
In addition, the supporters of Brigitte Barèges call for a rally on Saturday at 11:00 am in front of the prefecture of Tarn-et-Garonne.
The prefect of the department must publish a decree within 15 days which will record the end of the mandates of this figure of the local right known for his remarks considered homophobic and xenophobic.
cor / hj / caz
F
© 2021 AFP