The Council of State canceled the result of the last municipal elections in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) due to non-compliance with certain provisions of the electoral code in the second round, AFP learned on Wednesday (July 21).
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In its decision, dated July 20, the Council of State noted the "
irregular nature of the reception
" in the second round on its list of former running mate of a list competing by Anne Hardy (DVG), the main opponent of the outgoing mayor, Gilles Bourdouleix (DVD). Mayor since 1995, the latter was re-elected in June 2020 with 53.95% in this city of 53,000 inhabitants. Anne Hardy's list had recorded 46.04% of the vote.
Indeed, according to article 264 of the electoral code, recalls the Council of State, the candidates integrated, within the framework of the second round, in a list different from their initial list, must, among other conditions, be notified "
to the prefecture or sub-prefecture by the person having been responsible for the list made up
”in the first round, which was not the case.
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Consequently, "
the participation in the second round of this irregularly constituted list (the list of Anne Hardy) undermined the sincerity of the ballot as a whole
", considers the Council of State. "
The elections of March 15 and June 28, 2020 are canceled,
" ruled the institution, which also ruled Anne Hardy "
ineligible for all elections for a period of one year
". Anne Hardy will therefore not be able to participate in the next municipal elections which must be held within three months of the notification of the Council of State's decision.
