The president of the UDI Jean-Christophe Lagarde, weakened by legal troubles, announced on Wednesday October 19 to the members of his party that he was leaving his functions and that his successor would be elected on December 10, in a letter that could consult AFP.
This decision is "
painful for me, but necessary for all of us
" because "
I am not in a position to effectively preside over our political movement
", explains in this letter the president of the UDI who calls into question a "
judicial surge (. ..) carefully prepared
” against him.
"
I have to admit that I can no longer express myself in public to convey our message, our ideas, our project as I have done by your side for 8 years
", he adds.
Jean-Christophe Lagarde, 54, convened a National Bureau on Tuesday which approved this decision, as well as that of "
convening an early Congress which will be responsible for electing a new president on December 10
".
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Several legal troubles
Defeated in the June legislative elections by Raquel Garrido (LFI) in Seine-Saint-Denis after four successive terms, Jean-Christophe Lagarde quickly stepped down from his duties at the head of the UDI, whose presidency he had delegated to the Senator Hervé Marseille, without however formally leaving his post.
By December 10, Hervé Marseille will exercise "
full responsibility for our movement
", adds Jean-Christophe Lagarde.
"
This decision is effective today
," said the former deputy who has experienced several legal problems in recent months.
He is notably suspected of having granted a fictitious job as a parliamentary assistant to his mother-in-law, a case for which the National Financial Prosecutor's Office requested a one-year suspended prison sentence against him, accompanied by a deprivation of civil rights of five years.
Judgment is expected on December 7.
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In addition, one of his former collaborators was indicted in early September in the investigation into the false accusations of the magazine Le Point having targeted, during the campaign, the LFI deputies Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière.
In March 2021, the boss of the UDI was also placed in police custody after the discovery of several weapons at his home by the police, called for a family dispute.
"
I will demand justice
" from these "
multiple unjust and unjustified accusations
", adds Jean-Christophe Lagarde, who has just been elected in Drancy as deputy mayor of the city, his wife Aude Lagarde.
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