The Draguignan (Var) public prosecutor's office announced Monday that it was appealing the release of Patrick Renard, deputy of David Rachline, National Rally (RN) mayor of Fréjus, prosecuted for provoking racial hatred after a publication on a mixed couple on Facebook.
During the trial in December, the public prosecutor of Draguignan, Pierre Couttenier, requested five years of ineligibility and a fine of 5,000 euros against the elected official.
On February 14, 2021, Patrick Renard reacted strongly to a road safety spot showing a couple preparing to make love with the slogan “life is stronger than a last drink before hitting the road”.
Then deputy in charge of Security in Fréjus, the 71-year-old elected official stressed that it was a black man and a white woman, concluding
“enough is enough”
against a background of emojis in turd shape.
The local association Republican Forum had taken this publication to court, which was quickly deleted.
David Rachline then suspended his deputy, before reinstating him a few months later, still as deputy but no longer in charge of Security.
Read also Justice opens an investigation into the management of the RN town hall of Fréjus
Erotic character
Absent during the trial, Patrick Renard had challenged any racist interpretation of his message before the investigators, ensuring that he had objected to the erotic nature of the clip, which he did not see the connection with road safety.
During the trial, his lawyer, Me David Dassa-Le Deist, assured that the elected official was not racist and added that even if he had been, he had the right to be personally opposed to miscegenation as long as nothing stopped mixed couples from marrying in his city.
“From where he speaks, it is provocation
,” replied the prosecutor.
“It’s not the thought police.
This is the thought of someone who can lead the police.”