Attack on a mayor of Isère, on a private trip to Avignon: politicians react

Political reactions multiplied on Sunday after the announcement of the attack on the mayor of Péage-en-Roussillon.

“Unleashed violence”, “the wolves are unleashed”, “full support… Political figures from different backgrounds react on the social network X to the attack on the mayor of Péage-de-Roussillon, André Mondange. The various left-wing elected official was physically attacked in Avignon (Vaucluse), during the night from Thursday to Friday, while he was in a bar with his relatives. Questioned by BFMTV on Saturday evening, he assured that his attackers “identified as nationalists”. He also filed a complaint.

“Quickly, a regal and civic burst!”, declares the president of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF) and mayor of Les Républicains (LR) of Cannes, David Lisnard. For him, “The aggressors must understand that such acts will never again go unpunished.” He deplores that‘”once again, a mayor faces an outbreak of violence, including against those close to him.”

“The mayor of Péage-de-Roussillon, attacked by individuals claiming to be from the extreme right. The motive? Being left-wing and having a mixed-race daughter”, exclaims the first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure. According to him, “the wolves are unleashed and now believe themselves to be legitimized by the strength of the RN and the abdication of power”.

The national secretary of the French Communist Party, Fabien Roussel says his “total support for André Mondange, mayor of Péage en Roussillon, cowardly attacked with his family by far-right activists”. “Elected officials are on the front line facing this unbearable violence! The condemnation must be up to par!”he demands.

“The far-right is a danger. Support for the mayor of Le Péage-de-Roussillon André Mondange attacked by far-right activists”, writes Thomas Portes, La France insoumise (LFI) deputy for Seine-Saint-Denis. “They also targeted his daughter, explaining that ‘she was not legitimate’ on the grounds that she was mixed race.”he adds, repeating statements by the mayor in Le Dauphiné Libéré.

“The mayor is very affected by the racist nature of the attack initially targeting his loved ones,” says on Facebook the LR deputy for Isère, Yannick Neuder, who “made contact with him”. “This ever more worrying context of verbal and physical attacks targeted at our elected officials, particularly mayors, must alert us”he emphasizes.

Contacted by France Inter, the parliamentarian explains that André Mondange “has pain all over” and recalls that he “the face is very swollen“. On a psychological level, “it’s true that he is affected.” “Whether he is mayor or not, it doesn’t matter, these gratuitous attacks are despicable, there is no other word to describe them”he adds.

On franceinfo, the president of the Association of Rural Mayors of France, Michel Fournier, expects “clear answers” after this attack. For him, “justice must also impose strong sanctions, really very strong ones.” “We need to reform, we are closer to one reform, so that the sanctions are indeed up to par because it needs to make an impression”he said.