On April 24, for the second round of the presidential election, the deputy of Pyrénées-Atlantiques was filmed in the polling station of Lourdios-Ichère showing his abstention. He is being prosecuted for violations of the electoral code concerning attacks on the sincerity of the ballots.
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A criminal investigation was opened by the Pau prosecutor’s office against Jean Lassalle after his abstention was staged on Sunday during the second round of the presidential election, France Bleu Béarn Bigorre reported on Thursday April 28.
The deputy for Pyrénées-Atlantiques is being prosecuted for violations of the electoral code concerning attacks on the sincerity of the ballots. Jean Lassalle is liable to a trial before the criminal court. The code provides for a fine of 15,000 euros and/or imprisonment for up to one year. The former presidential candidate could also be ineligible if the prosecutor makes it an issue in her prosecution. His right to vote may also be withdrawn.
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Council decided to invalidate all the ballots for the second round of the presidential election in Lourdios-Ichère, the town where the elected official is registered. Sunday April 24, Jean Lassalle publicly declared, in front of the urn of the polling station of Lourdios-Ichère, that he was going to abstain from voting. The scene had been filmed and broadcast on social networks. We see him going to the voting booth, leaving it, then announcing in front of the ballot box that “for the first time in his life as a man”he “refuses to participate in this vote”. In the first round of the presidential election, Jean Lassalle won 3.13% of the votes cast.