The city of 175,000 inhabitants has been agitated since the end of August by this affair, at the heart of a judicial investigation after a complaint for blackmail by its former centrist first deputy Gilles Artigues.
The scandal prompted mayor LR to dismiss his chief of staff last week and then to renounce his representative functions in the city and the Metropolis, while one of his deputies, namely accused of having shot a compromising video to neutralize politically Mr. Artigues, tendered his resignation.
The three men were taken into police custody in mid-September after the confessions of a former close friend of the town hall on the Mediapart site, accusing the mayor and his entourage of having fomented this "marbling of manners" by paying him through benefits. fictitious billed to two cultural associations subsidized by the town hall.
"I hope that we can open up the municipal council on the sad question that the opposition wishes to raise so that those who have things to express can do so and that we can then deliberate on the subjects that all elected representatives of the majority have prepared", said the mayor during the traditional press briefing preceding the council.
This council brings together 59 elected officials, including 12 from the opposition who are asking for his departure with the support of 4 elected UDI.
"I ask only one thing, of my colleagues to continue to work as they have always done since the beginning of the mandate and of you, like the others, to respect the presumption of innocence", added the mayor during of this press briefing.
Mr. Perdriau denied having sponsored the video where we see Gilles Artigues being massaged by a man in a hotel room in Paris, in January 2015, and he denies having used these images to put pressure on this centrist known for his Catholic commitment.
His image, however, has been tarnished by damning audio recordings released by Mediapart.
At least three rallies are announced Monday afternoon in front of the town hall, the first organized by Nupes to "demand the resignation of Gaël Perdriau".
A group of Stéphanois "who want to fight it out" also organized a "starting party" for him in a press release denouncing "the impunity and immorality of scoundrels who want to be too powerful".
The association "Pink Triangle" calls for its part to denounce the "nauseating ambient climate" by denouncing "attacks, insults and rumors" linked to the sexual orientation of people.
© 2022 AFP