The sanctions soon to be reinforced for the perpetrators of violence against local elected officials. The prefect gave his agreement to the resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brévin, Wednesday, May 31. At the same time, the right and center senatorial majority tabled a bill to strengthen the “security of local elected officials and the protection of mayors”. As the government wishes, the text aims in particular to reinforce the penalties incurred for violence committed against local elected officials, of which the mayor of Saint-Brévin has become the symbol.
One thing is certain: it will not be able to be placed on the agenda of the Senate before the resumption of its work in October, after the summer break and the senatorial elections, specified Wednesday to Agence France-Presse the president of the Law Commission, François-Noël Buffet (LR). The Minister of Territorial Communities, Dominique Faure, announced on May 17 an alignment of the penalties incurred for attacks on elected officials with those for attacks on uniformed personnel, increasing them from three to seven years’ imprisonment and from 75,000 to 100 000 euro fine.
On the sidelines of the government question session, the minister said on Wednesday that she was counting on “a text in November”. For the time being, “there is no legislative vehicle yet”, said his cabinet.
For its part, the senatorial text provides for five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros if the violence has resulted in incapacity for work less than or equal to eight days and seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 euros if the resulting incapacity for work exceeds eight days. It takes up a provision already voted on, on the initiative of Senator Marc-Philippe Daubresse (LR), but challenged as “legislative rider” by the Constitutional Council.
The bill also addresses the issue of online threats and insults on social networks. It provides for a penalty of community service in the event of public insult when committed against persons holding public authority, including local elected officials, as well as a new aggravating circumstance for cases of harassment, especially online, against local elected officials. A second part includes a series of measures to improve the care of elected officials who are victims of violence, attacks or insults, within the framework of their mandate or of an electoral campaign.
In addition to the chairman of the Laws Committee, it is signed by three group presidents, Bruno Retailleau (LR), Hervé Marseille (centrist) and Jean-Claude Requier (RDSE with a radical majority), or even the president of the senatorial delegation to the Local authorities, Françoise Gatel (centrist).