Maxime Legrand, PRG candidate beaten in the 11th district of Pas-de-Calais, filed a complaint against the mayor of Carvin Philippe Kemel. Angry, he considers “unacceptable” that the municipal teams did not know how to properly organize the election of June 12 – “basic democratic exercise” – in a period of high abstention. But we will not vote again.
In a clear and calm voice, and with an anger that has not yet completely subsided, Maxime Legrand explains things.
Eliminated in the first round of the 2022 legislative elections with 1.38% of the vote, in the 11th constituency of Pas-de-Calais, the one where Marine Le Pen was elected on Sunday June 19, he does not want to “replay the match” , in particular because it constituted a cost for the “4-5 small candidates, non-professional politicians”, of the constituency, of which he is a part.
Maxime Legrand will therefore not complain to the Constitutional Council which could decide to vote for the legislative elections in this constituency.
However, convinced that the organization of elections is “the basic democratic exercise”assured of the fact that his ballot was not offered to voters in the polling stations of the town of Carvin, he lodged a complaint against Philippe Kemel, the mayor of the town.
“De deux chose one: either there was malice or there was incompetence. Both are unacceptable at a time of democratic crisis and at a time when abstention is breaking records. At no time from the receipt of the box containing my ballots, the town hall of Carvin did not notify either the prefecture or me, between the Wednesday preceding the first round (date of receipt of the ‘Maxime Legrand’ bulletins by the town hall of Carvin) and Sunday, June 12, morning”.
Of two, one has been chosen: either there was malice or there was incompetence. Both are unacceptable at a time of democratic crisis and at a time when abstention is breaking records.
Maxime LegrandFrance 3 Hauts de France
Therefore, “through my lawyer, I filed a complaint with the public prosecutor of Béthune last Wednesday by mail against Philippe Kemel. Criminal.”
In a press release Maxime Legrand clarifies his thoughts: “Carvin is a town of more than 17,000 inhabitants, with a director general of services and numerous municipal agents experienced in voting operations. Philippe Kemel, himself elected since 1977, is not his first election. He knew and therefore knew very well, as all the texts and circulars of the Ministry of the Interior remind us that the ballot papers must be checked upon receipt of the cards and that the prefecture must be alerted immediately.
On the phone, Maxime Legrand specifies: “They had four days to notice it. Let’s imagine that they do not touch the ballots before Friday evening and the closing of the schools where we vote. From Saturday, they must alert the authorities or me”.
And the PRG candidate disappointed to ensure that “if follow-up is not given to this filing of a complaint within the next three months, a complaint with a civil action (resulting in the appointment of an investigating judge) will be filed”.
For his part, the mayor of Carvin does not want to comment for the moment.