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An investigation was opened after the aggression of the mayor of Ouges (Côte-d’Or) Sunday at the end of the day, we learned today from corroborating sources.
Sunday around 6.30 p.m., the mayor of this town located south of Dijon, Jean-Claude Girard, asked a young man riding a quad at high speed along a canal frequented by walkers to slow down “in the name of his police powers”, but the tone rose and the quad rider threatened to call for reinforcement, according to a spokesperson for the town hall, confirming information from the Public Good.
A little after, “seven to eight people” arrived on the scene, armed with iron bars, and attacked the mayor by hitting him “a blow in the back of the head”, as well as to a resident, who intervened after witnessing the scene. Another resident finally put the attackers to flight by showing off a hunting rifle.
The mayor of this city of some 1,600 inhabitants has been recognized for a total work stoppage of two days, according to the spokesperson.
A gendarmerie investigation is underway, said the prosecutor of the Republic of Dijon, who did not wish to speak more today.
For his part, the LR president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region Renaud Muselier demanded that this attack be “sanctioned in the most severe way”.
The prefect of Côte-d’Or, Fabien Sudry, condemned in a press release “with the greatest firmness the aggression against the mayor of Ouges”. “To attack an elected representative of the Republic is to attack the entire Republic”, said the prefect.
This new attack on a city councilor also provoked strong reactions from political leaders, even within the government and in other regions.
The Minister for Trade, Franck Riester, castigated in a tweet the“odious attack on the mayor of Ouges by thugs, while he was defending his constituents”.
The PS mayor of Dijon, François Rebsamen, expressed his “anger” and his “indignation”. “In my name and on behalf of the mayors of the metropolis, I give all my support to Jean-Claude Girard and the Ougeois”, he added.
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