The public rapporteur of the Council of State delivered his guidelines during the hearing on Thursday. He asked for the rejection of the appeal filed by Jean-Luc Rigaut to annul the municipal elections in Annecy. The current mayor, François Astorg, says he is “confident” about the judges’ decision.

The hearing was held on Thursday, December 2, before the highest administrative court. The public rapporteur of the Council of State gave his guidelines on the appeal to annul the municipal elections in Annecy, filed by the former mayor Jean-Luc Rigaut. The magistrate spoke in favor of the rejection of this appeal, which would imply the maintenance of the elections if the judges follow its guidelines.

“I am very happy. We will now be able to move forward more easily on our files, to put an end to this period of inertia”, rejoices Mayor François Astorg, “confident” on the decision of the Council of State. “In 99% of cases, the judges follow the guidelines of the rapporteur”, says the city councilor who was the only one present at the hearing Thursday.

In the second round of municipal elections in June 2020, only 27 votes had separated the environmental candidate François Astorg from the former UDI mayor Jean-Luc Rigaut. The latter had filed a first appeal before the administrative court of Grenoble which had rejected his request. Jean-Luc Rigaut argued a small difference in votes, an abstention “unpublished” and proxies in his favor which had not been registered on time.

More than a year after these elections, it is up to the Council of State to decide. The decision has been placed under advisement. The judges could perform in the coming days or until the beginning of January. Me Jean-Claude Fabbian, who defends Jean-Luc Rigaut, explained to us that he had little hope for a turnaround: “We can always hope that the Council of State retains a freedom of judgment. But, in fact, the recommended figures are followed in more than nine out of ten cases.”

Among the difficulties of the case, the long period that elapsed between the filing of the first appeal and the final judgment. For the ecological mayor of Annecy, “above all we need stability” more than a year and a half after the municipal elections. “There was a political magnifying glass effect, believes François Astorg. Opponents have done everything to magnify this phenomenon. “

Claiming to be assured, the city councilor is delighted to be able to move forward on his files without the sword of Damocles above his head. “When you are loaded with your backpack, you inevitably move more slowly, he says. Now, that is no longer the case.”