While she was putting up greeting posters in Bordes-Aumont (Aube), Valérie Bazin-Malgras, deputy (LR), was threatened by a man armed with a firearm on Wednesday, December 28. She filed a complaint.
An elected representative of the Republic threatened by a firearm, this rarely happens in France. But Valérie Bazin-Malgras, MP (LR) for the second constituency of Aube, had the bitter experience of it.
Re-elected for a second term in the summer of 2022, the well-known local elected official in Troyes (Aube) put up greeting posters intended to be read by the population of her constituency. It was Wednesday, December 28.
With her parliamentary attaché and her daughter, she stuck in the streets of Bordes-Aumont (Aube), a village of just over 500 souls located on the outskirts of Troyes. East-Lightning revealed that a man had insulted her with a firearm, which he used (see the location of the town on the map below).
Met by Clément Meunier, journalist from France 3 Champagne-Ardenne, on the morning of this Saturday, December 31, the deputy assures that she is well. She was not injured, and after her fright, decided to file a complaint.
What happened ?
“Something incredible happened to us. We got shot anyway. We put up posters to wish wishes, it’s good child, there is no political color. Me, on a poster, which wishes a happy new year to the second constituency of Aube.”
“And we come across an angry person, who in a few seconds threatens us to go get a weapon, goes to get his weapon, and shoots us in the back. We had the fear of our lives, with my collaborator and my daughter . Truly, it will be remembered.”
Why did it happen?
“From what we know of what happened, the person did not identify me. It can happen to anyone. But we do not take out weapons like that. Why is this gentleman Threaten to get a gun, go get it, and shoot? It’s dramatic.”
“He thought he was shooting at young people. Wait, we’re not shooting at anyone… We don’t draw arms so quickly, I’m very angry with this gentleman. I don’t understand his reaction. We were there in a good state. of mind, we were doing our job as activists sticking up political posters. And that’s what happens.”
Where did the ball end up?
“Thank God we weren’t hit. Even the fact that it was a plastic bullet, I wouldn’t have wanted to take it in the eye, in the face. He shot my back and we were dumbfounded We didn’t know what to do, we were really, really scared.”
What did he tell you?
“From his speech – because I still told him he was crazy and that he scared me – he was dumbfounded. He wasn’t talking anymore. The only thing I heard was : ‘I’m going to get my 22 [carabine; ndlr]’.”
“I think it was against a background of alcohol, obviously. Two of his friends were in front of his house, no one stopped him. His friends saw the scene and let him take out the gun and shoot. They then went to tear down the posters. There’s so much wickedness about it…I don’t understand.”
How are you ?
“We think about it at night. We don’t get away with it. We were shot at. The three of us heard a detonation. We all looked at each other, and we left in the car. We don’t want to take a second bullet.”
“But it’s true that when I turned in my car to get the posters, I told him to get his gun. But I was afraid of taking a bullet in the back. In the evening, like that, by sticking up posters between parties, when we should be appeased. It’s terrible, it’s catastrophic. […] You have to calm down.”
What’s next in this case?
“See the consequences. This gentleman is going to have big problems. Well, I hope so, I think so. And that seems normal to me. He will go to court on June 7, he is under judicial control, he must clock in every week the gendarmerie and he has no right to approach us.”
“I don’t want retaliation, I want to be able to go out and do my job as an MP properly. Now that he knows it’s me, it’s easy to find me: I hope he doesn’t play me look and impress me. I’m not afraid of him. I want this gentleman to calm down, and to heal himself if he needs it.”