The wedding did not take place. While Robert Ménard, mayor of Béziers, had announced that he refused to marry a 23-year-old Algerian under OQTF (obligation to leave French territory) and a Frenchwoman in his town hall, the couple presented themselves well on Friday 7 July in the morning, when the ceremony should have taken place. Robert Ménard renewed his refusal and received the young woman, reports Midi Libre. “I came in a pacifist and communication approach. […] The mayor told me that it was not personal but that he would not marry us, “said the latter to the regional daily. “I’m ashamed of France,” she also said.
The mayor of Béziers revealed on CNews that he had “the right to 10 minutes of militant, programmed, formatted speech” during his brief interview with the bride-to-be. He also discovered that the latter was recording their conversation. The young woman ended up leaving the town hall of Béziers with her companion. The couple went to file a complaint.
“I find it disgusting, we are very much in love, we live together, it’s been more than seven months,” the young man also said, according to comments reported by CNews. This Algerian, who has had trouble with the law, remains determined to marry his partner, even if, for that, he must return to Algeria and then return with his papers.
On CNews, Robert Ménard – who faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros for refusing to marry this couple when the law allows it – denounced a “circus” and held the responsibility of the State in this case: “This boy should have been apprehended, taken to the border and deported to Algeria. »