Rally in Support of Mayor of Montjoi – Increasing Violence and Cyberbullying against Elected Officials

150 Elected Officials and Citizens Rally in Support of Mayor of Montjoi, Victim of Violence and Cyberbullying

Tarn-et-Garonne, France – About 150 elected officials and citizens gathered in Tarn-et-Garonne on Saturday, June 24, to show their support for the mayor of Montjoi, Christian Eurgal. The mayor has become a victim of violence and cyberbullying following a neighborhood dispute between his constituents.

Speaking at the rally, Mayor Christian Eurgal emotionally testified, “It’s just for a rural road story 3 years ago. And it can happen to anyone.” The crowd, consisting of elected officials and citizens who traveled from Tarn-et-Garonne and neighboring departments, stood in solidarity with the mayor.

The conflict began three years ago when Mayor Eurgal created a diversion to prohibit access to a municipal road that crossed private property. However, a farmer refused to take the detour, leading to a prolonged dispute. The farmer was eventually sentenced to a suspended fine of 5,000 euros for kidnapping the mayor.

Following the conviction, the farmer reportedly contacted Papacito, a far-right Toulouse YouTuber. A video was released, accusing Mayor Eurgal of favoring an English resident over the farmer, which resulted in numerous threats against the municipal team. On May 11, another video was released by the same YouTuber, comparing Mayor Eurgal to a weasel and depicting him being hunted, captured, raped, and left for dead. Since then, threats have continued to pour in.

“I received over 1200 hate emails in a single day,” testified Christian Eurgal. “Now I live differently. I pay attention to everything, even the people I meet in my village. It seems absurd. It made me very suspicious. My life changed completely.”

Due to the escalating violence, the elected official has been placed under legal protection. At the beginning of the month, the home of the Briton involved in the neighborhood dispute was sprayed with red paint. Mayor Eurgal described the scene, saying, “The whole continuous facade is really infused with red, and what’s special is that they finished with black. Red for me represents blood, and black is the end. It means what it means, it’s death for me.”

Unfortunately, the case of Mayor Eurgal is not an exception. Violence against elected officials, including verbal and physical attacks, as well as cyber-harassment, is on the rise. There has been a 32% increase in characterized events between 2021 and 2022. One of the mayors present at the rally expressed their dismay, stating, “It’s shameful, it’s dramatic to come to this. When we are elected, we give ourselves for our fellow citizens, our residents, and it is a shame to be thanked like that. It’s very sad to come to this.”

In a separate incident on June 21, Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc and some of his deputies in Toulouse were targeted with garbage throws. Neighborhood mayor Nina Ochoa had to be taken to the emergency room for a dislocated shoulder.

In response to the increasing violence, the government announced a plan last May to fight against violence targeting elected officials. The plan includes the appointment of privileged interlocutors in gendarmeries and police stations, strengthening of the “elected alarm” system, which allows mayors to prioritize their calls to emergency services, and tougher criminal sanctions. However, these measures have not been convincing enough.

Jean-Philippe Bésiers, the SE mayor of Castelsarrasin, who was attacked two weeks ago, insisted, “A law, yes, but people must also understand that elected officials are above all at the service of the population. They are a link between the State and the population, and there must also be respect. I ask the state to have a hard law and that justice really does its job so that these people are punished.”

Despite the threats, Mayor Eurgal has no intention of resigning. In Montjoi, a town with barely 160 inhabitants, the State will deploy five video surveillance cameras to ensure the safety of the mayor and the community.

What specific measures are needed to combat cyberbullying and protect public figures from online harassment?

He color of death. So, it’s a death threat in the end.”

The rally on June 24 aimed to draw attention to the violence and cyberbullying faced by Mayor Eurgal and to express support for him and his team. Elected officials and citizens from various departments joined in the gathering, displaying banners and signs with messages of solidarity and denouncing violence.

Local officials emphasized the importance of standing up against such acts of violence and cyberbullying. “We cannot accept that elected officials, mayors, village councilors are subjected to this kind of abuse, threats, and especially intimidation,” said Jean-Michel Baylet, President of the Departmental Council of Tarn-et-Garonne.

Citizens echoed the sentiment, expressing their outrage and concern over the escalating situation. “We are here to show our support for our mayor, but also to say stop, enough is enough,” said one resident. “We cannot accept this kind of behavior in our society.”

The rally also shed light on the broader issue of cyberbullying and online harassment faced by public figures. Elected officials highlighted the need for stronger measures to combat cyberbullying and protect individuals from digital abuse.

Mayor Eurgal expressed his gratitude for the support, but also emphasized the need for action. “Thank you for being here, thank you for your presence and your support,” he said. “But now, we also need solutions. We need the state to realize the gravity of the situation and take appropriate measures to protect us.”

The rally concluded with a call for unity and solidarity in the face of violence and cyberbullying. Elected officials and citizens vowed to continue supporting Mayor Eurgal and to stand against any form of intimidation or threats faced by public servants.