He clings to his chair and it begins to annoy a good number of local elected officials. Despite the call a few days ago from the President of the Senate himself to resign, Joel Guerriau (Horizons) still refuses to give up its mandate. He simply agreed to no longer come and sit “until further notice”.
Accused by MP Sandrine Josso (Modem) of having drugged her with the aim of abusing her, during an evening last November at his Parisian home, Joel Guerriau is the subject of an investigation opened by the courts in which he was indicted.
In an open letter initiated by another senator from Loire-Atlantique, the former socialist Philippe Grosvalet, and made public this Monday evening, more than a hundred local elected officials, “major voters” (the electorate who can vote in the senatorial elections) summon him to purely and simply renounce his mandate.
“Only the Constitutional Council can pronounce the forfeiture of the mandate of a parliamentarian after the final pronouncement of a criminal sanction”
The signatories believe that a simple withdrawal of the former mayor of Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire is not enough : “Even if he no longer sits at the Luxembourg Palace, nor participates in any work (…) Mr. Guerriau has retained his mandate. In fact, only the Constitutional Council can pronounce the forfeiture of the mandate of a parliamentarian after the final pronouncement of a criminal sanction”they recall this open letter.
“If the presumption of innocence must be respected to guarantee the rule of law, the principle of exemplary behavior of our national representatives must also be taken into account”we can also read.
“A regrettable choice for the image of the upper house of our Parliament, but also detrimental for the defense of our territory”
The “major voters” put forward two arguments to once again invite Joel Guerriau to step down. “Mr. Guerriau’s choice to maintain his position, at all costs, is not only regrettable for the image of the upper house of our Parliament, but also detrimental for the defense of our territory”they explain, highlighting that “only 4 of the 5 senators from the department actually sit there to represent the voice of our communities”. The signatories therefore denounce a “under representation of fact” of Loire-Atlantique.
The electors end their missive thus: “This decision, pending a final judgment and taking into account the seriousness of the alleged facts, would be likely to restore the fair representation of our territories and to respect the principle of probity to which we, elected representatives of the Republic, are attached.”
Among the signatories, we find in particular Michel Menard, the president of the Loire-Atlantique departmental council, Fabrice Rousseldeputy for the 5th Circumscription of Loire-Atlantique, David samzunthe mayor of Saint-Nazaire, Remy Orhonthe mayor of Ancenis, or even Roch Chéraud**, the president of the department’s association of rural mayors.
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