The prosecution appealed the release of two CGT activists suspected of having caused power cuts in Bordeaux during demonstrations against pension reform in spring 2023, we learned on Tuesday.
They will therefore be retried.
In March 2023, voluntary cuts, partially claimed by the CGT Énergie, affected several thousand customers in Bordeaux.
The town hall, the judicial court and a hospital were deprived of electricity.
Saint-André Hospital estimated that its patients placed on respirators had been put in danger between the moment the electricity was cut and the moment, a few minutes later, when a generator took over.
Relaxed at first instance
Prosecuted for endangering the lives of others and aggravated damage to the property of others, two trade unionists from the CGT Énergie were acquitted by the criminal court in January, even though the public prosecutor had requested 18-month sentences against them. suspended prison sentence.
The two defendants, including the departmental secretary of the CGT Énergie Christophe Garcia, had refuted at the hearing that they were among the people who entered the electrical substation.
Also read: Power cuts: around fifty people interviewed by the police
In its decision, the court found in particular that the presence of the two Enedis employees in the electrical room was not “demonstrated” and that no damage had been committed by the demonstrators when cutting off the power.
Willingness to “set a precedent”, for their lawyer
“The prosecution considered that it was necessary to appeal despite the reasoning in the (first instance) judgment, which was well judged, well reasoned,” said their lawyer Magali Bisiau.
“They are appealing, there will be a new hearing, which will be noted,” she reacted, saying she saw in this appeal a reflection of the “political” importance of the case.
“They still want to go all the way, believing that we must not let this type of acquittal pass, because it can have effects on other social movements” and “set a precedent,” she said. estimated.
Subject to disciplinary proceedings
For the public prosecutor, the power cuts were “a premeditated union objective”, validated in advance at the general assembly, and exposed patients “to a risk of death or injury”.
According to their lawyer, these two employees, “very affected” by the legal proceedings, are also subject to disciplinary proceedings initiated by Enedis.
“It really impacted them and their family,” she argued.
“They are used to union fighting but they have been marked.
And there, they have a future fight called the disciplinary council,” scheduled for February, she concluded.