This decision is “painful for me, but necessary for all of us”, said Jean-Christophe Lagarde to the members of the UDI. Weakened by legal troubles, the president of the party announced on Wednesday, October 20, that he was leaving office. “I am not in a position to effectively preside over our political movement”he explains in a letter that AFP was able to consult, questioning a “judicial surge (…) carefully prepared” against him. “I am forced to see that I can no longer express myself in public to convey our message, our ideas, our project as I have been doing by your side for 8 years”, he adds. “This decision is effective as of today”says the former MP.
Jean-Christophe Lagarde convened a National Bureau on Tuesday which approved this decision, as well as that of “convene an early Congress which will be responsible for electing a new president on December 10th”. 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, of which he had delegated the presidency. to Senator Hervé Marseille, without however formally leaving his post.
By December 10, Hervé Marseille will exercise “the full responsibility of our movement”adds Jean-Christophe Lagarde.
He is notably suspected of having granted a fictitious job as a parliamentary assistant to his mother-in-law. In this case, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office requested a one-year suspended prison sentence against him, together with a five-year deprivation of civil rights. Judgment is expected on December 7.
In addition, one of his former collaborators was indicted in early September in the investigation into the magazine’s false accusations. Point having targeted, during the campaign, the deputies LFI 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” death “multiple unjust and unjustified accusations”adds Jean-Christophe Lagarde, who has just been elected in Drancy deputy mayor of the city, his wife Aude Lagarde.