The Versailles administrative court on Tuesday canceled the first round of the municipal elections in Chevreuse (Yvelines) where the two candidates, including the outgoing mayor, had arrived at almost a tie, except for one ballot.
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On March 15, Anne Hery-Le Pallec, the outgoing LR mayor of this municipality of less than 6000 inhabitants - which houses the headquarters of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse regional natural park -, had indeed obtained 1,014 votes and her opponent Sébastien Cattaneo (SE) 1.013.
In a judgment of which AFP obtained a copy, the court considers that one of the ballots in favor of Mr. Cattaneo was wrongly invalidated, thus putting the two candidates tied with 1,014 votes each, which effectively cancels the ballot municipal and community.
Sébastien Cattaneo had also brought this action before the administrative justice to request the ineligibility of the outgoing mayor and one of his running mate for various reasons. However, these requests were rejected.
As soon as the decision becomes final (claimants and defendants have indeed one month to appeal), the municipality will have three months to call new elections and will be administered in the meantime by a " special delegation ", according to the general code of local authorities . Sebastien Cattaneo told AFP that he would not appeal because " what we wanted above all was the cancellation of the election, " he said. Anne Héry-Le Pallec could not be reached.