During the night of Monday to Tuesday, May 6, in Haute-Loire, the mayor of Aurec-sur-Loire was burned down, spreading to that of his wife. The mayor evokes “a criminal fire”. An investigation is underway.
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In Haute-Loire, on the night of Monday to Tuesday, May 6, around 1 a.m., the mayor of Aurec-sur-Loire was awakened by the fire of his vehicle. Contacted, Claude Vial does not wish to speak for the time being. In a press release published on the town’s Facebook page, elected officials tell: “Alerted by his dog’s barking, it was the mayor’s wife who called the firefighters while the mayor was going to warn his neighbors of the danger. After an intervention of more than 2 hours of the firefighters, the fire was under control and did not affect the houses however very close to the vehicles. The vegetation has been strongly blackened. No one has been injured, which is relief. The mayor and his wife are doing well and have not lost their cool. The first elements collected by the investigators demonstrate that this fire has a criminal origin. It is the figure of the mayor of the city that was targeted“.
But where will this violence stop? This attack could have destroyed the lives of 6 people
The mayor insists: “It is a real damage to the Republic, says Claude Vial. This odious act has not only destroyed material good, but it also attacks the fundamental values of our democracy. This type of action demonstrates the weakness and cowardice of those we condemn daily through our courageous security policy, which disturbs“. In this press release, Claude Vial indicates that he will file a complaint.
-Cathy Pajeon, Puy-en-Velay Public Prosecutor, is not as categorical about the criminal track: “There was a fire in the mayor’s vehicle in the night, which spread to that of his spouse, nearby. The emergency services were notified around 12:45 am. An investigation is currently underway. It is entrusted to the Yssingeaux research brigade. No track is privileged. It is far too early to know what are the circumstances and determine whether or not there are individuals”.
The prefect of Haute-Loire evokes in a press release “Criminal fire“. He writes:”Faced with this unspeakable aggression, the prefect of Haute-Loire wishes to express his total support for Mr. Claude Vial as well as his wife, and salutes their composure in the face of this situation. (…). This attack constitutes a direct damage to the Republic and those who serve it”.
The mayor of Aurec-sur-Loire also received support on the social network X of David Lisnard, president of the Association of Mayors of France: “On behalf of the mayors of France, I addressed my support for our colleague from Aurec-sur-Loire whose car was burnt down, as well as that of his wife, within their property. It is a very serious new attack on an elected official and the French Republic through him”.
We should not let this pass. It’s very serious.
Bernard Souvignet, president of the association of mayors of Haute-Loire
Bernard Souvignet, president of the Association of Mayors of Haute-Loire, is also shocked. He says: “I sent a message to Claude Vial but I didn’t have it live. It continues. We had an aggression of an elected official in Boisset in 2024. At Vielprat, the mayor was insulted. Now, it goes pin, we attack Mr. Vial’s vehicles. You have to be severe with the authors. Our association has the right to be a civil party. I proposed it to Mr. Vial, to support him. It is necessary because the complaints of mayors are often classified without follow -up. These facts are worse in worse. It becomes strongly worrying. One year before the elections, this is done to cool any candidates. If we manage to find the attackers, you will have to be very severe. The mayor represents the Republic. We have the right not to agree with a mayor. Ultimately, you can get stuck with him but it is incredible to arrive at such extremities. No one respects firefighters or gendarmes: why would we respect a mayor?”.
The investigation must thus determine the exact circumstances of the fire.
