The mayor of Péage-de-Roussillon (Isère) André Mondange has filed a complaint after being physically assaulted in the Avignon area on the night of Thursday to Friday, AFP learned Saturday from the prefecture of Isère. The mayor "was attacked in the Avignon area on the night of December 21 to 22 while he was traveling in a private setting," the prefecture said, without giving any further details on the place or time of the attack.
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He was wearing a cockade and people came to ask him what the badge he was wearing meant, to which he replied that it was a mayor's badge," the source said. In response, "individuals then attacked him and the people who were with him, making racist remarks." "There was a fight, there was a beating, the mayor was injured. He has filed a complaint," the prefecture also said, adding that "the sub-prefect on duty has contacted him" and that "support has been put in place."
'Unacceptable act'
The prefect of Isère, Louis Laugier, condemned "with firmness the attack on André Mondange" in a message published on X (ex-Twitter). He "gives his full support to the mayor and his family in the face of this ordeal, in the face of this unacceptable act."
The deputy of Isère Yannick Neuder (LR) said in a message published on his Facebook account that "the mayor is very affected by the racist nature of the attack initially targeting his relatives" and that he had "immediately contacted him". His message on X is accompanied by a photograph of the elected official, his face swollen.
Violence against elected officials is a sensitive issue that has gained momentum in recent months. According to the Interior Ministry, attacks on elected officials are expected to increase by 15% in 2023, after a 32% increase last year.