Toulouse: the vote interrupted by activists “neither Macron nor Le Pen”
The voting procedure for the second round of the presidential election was disrupted for 30 minutes, at the Gais Pinsons school in Toulouse, this Sunday, April 24. Young activists denouncing the “lack of democracy” were arrested by the police, without opposing resistance.
“Neither Macron nor Le Pen”, “Democracy falls asleep in the voting booth”… eight activists in their twenties were arrested by the national police on Sunday April 24 around 3:30 p.m. They entered the two rooms which housed the polling stations, at the Gais Pinsons school, in the Bourrassol district in Toulouse.
They worked with signs, not talking. “The two girls each entered a voting booth, and the boy was in the middle of the room,” said Johan Nganga, president of one of the polling stations. “I asked them to come out, because they were committing an offense by disrupting the vote. They told me that they were demonstrating peacefully. They refused, so I called the police.”
They are considering a year’s imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros.
According to witnesses interviewed on site, eight people entered the polling stations, and a few others demonstrated outside. When law enforcement arrives, protesters outside are gone. The eight activists were arrested without opposing resistance. They were taken to the central police station.
According to article L97 of the Electoral Code, “Those who, with the help of false news, slanderous rumors or other fraudulent maneuvers, have surprised or diverted votes, persuaded one or more voters to abstain from voting, will be punished with “imprisonment of one year and a fine of 15,000 euros”.