The mayor of Arcachon sentenced for violence and threats against an opponent

The mayor of Arcachon, Yves Foulon, was sentenced on [date] to a fine of 10,000 euros, including 5,000 euros suspended, for violence, threats and insults against his opponent, Vital Baude, during the first round of the municipal elections on March 15.

According to established facts, Yves Foulon, who has governed Arcachon for 25 years, insulted and threatened Vital Baude, various left-wing candidate, in an exchange filmed by the online media Vakita. The insults uttered included “Son of a bitch”, “asshole”, and “you are a piece of shit”. He also threatened to “beat him up” and “do everything to fuck him”, planning to attack him and his family.

Before the Bordeaux criminal court, Yves Foulon admitted the comments but declared “not recognizing himself” in the facts. The prosecutor, considering this case as "the most serious" of the cases of attacks on elected officials handled by the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office, had requested a four-month suspended prison sentence.

The sentence imposed, much less, allows Yves Foulon to retain his mandate, having never been convicted before. He must also pay 2,500 euros to Vital Baude for the damage suffered. The latter did not rule out appealing, deploring the absence of a suspended prison sentence and the retention of the mandate by the mayor despite his violent and threatening behavior.