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 Mayor 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, Mayor Eurgal has been placed under legal protection. Earlier this month, the home of the Briton involved in the neighborhood dispute was sprayed with red paint. “The whole continuous facade is really infused with red, and what’s special is that they finished with black,” described Mayor Eurgal. “Red for me represents blood, and black is the end. It means what it means. It’s death for me.”
The case of Mayor Eurgal is not an isolated incident. Violence against elected officials, including verbal and physical attacks and cyber-harassment, is on the rise. There has been a 32% increase in characterized events between 2021 and 2022. “It’s shameful, it’s dramatic to come to this,” deplored one of the elected officials present at the rally. “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 in Toulouse, the mayor and some of his deputies 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 escalating violence, the government announced a plan to fight against violence against elected officials last May. 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 convinced many. “A law, yes, but people must also understand that elected officials are above all at the service of the population, are a link between the State and the population, and there must also be respect,” insisted Jean-Philippe Bésiers, the SE mayor of Castelsarrasin, who was himself attacked two weeks ago. “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 the town of Montjoi, with barely 160 inhabitants, the State will deploy five video surveillance cameras to ensure the safety of the mayor and the community.
How can communities address cyberbullying and ensure the safety of elected officials?
Ade, black attacks, just to intimidate my neighbors.”
The rally aimed to condemn the violence and cyberbullying faced by Mayor Eurgal. Elected officials from various political parties, including the mayor of Castelsarrasin, Jean-Philippe Bès, and the mayor of Beaumont-de-Lomagne, Richard Fiol, expressed their solidarity with Mayor Eurgal.
“The violence faced by Mayor Eurgal is unacceptable. We stand united against any form of intimidation and will support him in seeking justice,” stated Mayor Jean-Philippe Bès.
In addition to elected officials, citizens from Montjoi and neighboring towns participated in the rally to demonstrate their support. Many held signs that read, “Stop violence and hate,” and “We stand with you, Mayor Eurgal.”
The rally also highlighted the broader issue of cyberbullying and its impact on public officials. “No one should feel unsafe or fearful while serving their community. We need to address cyberbullying and ensure the safety of our elected representatives,” emphasized Mayor Richard Fiol.
The event concluded with a moment of silence and a promise from the attendees to continue supporting Mayor Eurgal. Efforts are now underway to bring attention to the issue and provide resources to combat cyberbullying, particularly targeted at public officials.
“I am grateful for the support I have received from my fellow citizens and elected officials. Together, we will raise awareness about the consequences of cyberbullying and work towards creating a safer environment for everyone,” said Mayor Eurgal.
