Stéphane Espic, 49, was prosecuted for “public insult to the President of the Republic” and “public insult and defamation towards private individuals”. The Toulon criminal court canceled the procedure this Wednesday afternoon.
This resident of Annecy-Vieux (Haute-Savoie) appeared for having posted a video on Facebook this summer in which he attacks Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron.
The video was broadcast live from the vicinity of Fort Brégançon (Bormes-les-Mimosas) on August 11, while the Macron couple were vacationing in the Var presidential residence.
Saved by the law of 1881
The accused was saved by the provisions of the law of July 29, 1881 on freedom of the press. According to this text, in matters of insult and defamation, prosecutions can only be initiated on complaints from persons who consider themselves injured. President of the Republic or not.
However, in the procedure examined by the Criminal Court of Toulon, it appeared that a third party (the Elysée security manager) had filed a complaint on behalf of the President of the Republic.
A lawyer was in charge of filing a complaint on behalf of Brigitte Macron, but he did not produce a representation mandate … And the First Lady did not sign the complaint, said the Toulon court .
The court therefore gave a favorable response to the conclusions of nullity raised by Me Juan Branco, who represented Stéphane Espic.
