an investigating judge seized for Facebook posts by an RN candidate in Côtes-d’Armor

A judicial investigation has been opened against a candidate of the National Rally in the legislative elections in Côtes-d’Armor for publications on her Facebook account, announced on Wednesday, July 10, the prosecutor’s office of Saint-Brieuc. The investigation is entrusted to an investigating judge, in particular for public incitement to hatred and public insult, specified the prosecutor of the Republic of Saint-Brieuc, Nicolas Heitz.

On June 25, a complaint from the Human Rights League was sent to the public prosecutor’s office. “denouncing publications on her Facebook account by the National Rally candidate”, “as being able to carry criminal qualifications”according to the statement. The prosecution proceeded to “the analysis of all of these publications with regard in particular to the offences provided for by the law of 29 July 1881 relating to press law”.

Françoise Billaud, who is not named in the press release, was defeated in the second round of the legislative elections in a three-way contest in the first constituency of Côtes-d’Armor, winning 26.77% of the vote. During the campaign, the newspaper Release unearthed social media posts from several candidates, including Françoise Billaud. At the end of May, she shared an image suggesting support “heterosexuality while it is still legal.” In July 2021, she shared a post from an internet user showing Pétain’s grave, with the caption “July 23, 1951, death in detention of Philippe Pétain, Marshal of France.”