Electoral fraud, disputed proxies from a rest home… we haven’t gone back 6 years to Neufchâteau but it all looks very similar. As a reminder, a story of contentious proxies issued in the name of residents of the Le Clos des Seigneurs home and having favored the outgoing mayor Dimitri Fourny shook the last legislature in the Chester city.
Today, it is the town of Durbuy which is affected by a similar story. A judicial investigation has been opened for suspicion of proxy fraud concerning the elections of October 13. This is confirmed to us by the 1st alderwoman of Durbuy, Laurence Jamagne. “There is indeed an investigation that has been opened for suspicion of electoral fraud. I am very surprised by this news. All I can say is that I had a few powers of attorney but done in due form and that we must let justice do its work,” explains the woman who serves as mayor until this Sunday, Philippe Bontemps having gone on vacation. As in Neufchâteau 6 years ago, it is a retirement home which would again be targeted in this investigation.
A retirement home targeted
If Laurence Jamagne confirms the opening of a judicial investigation, she also explains that there was no search in the municipal administration and that no employee was questioned by the police. Our colleagues from TV Lux nevertheless explain that police inspectors would have asked on Friday to hear civil status personnel and requested sworn certificates and identity documents linked to powers of attorney.
Justice will also only target the Mayor’s List and the proxies she used. This is what Pablo Docquier, head of the MR-Durbuy list in the last elections and outgoing alderman, tends to confirm to us. “According to the information I have, no list other than that of the mayor would be targeted. In any case, I am really surprised and disappointed if all this is true. After the sad experience which took place in Neufchâteau, it would be lamentable if it happened in Durbuy. This is really not the image I have of power,” explains the man who should normally find himself in the minority… if there is no new election.
In Neufchâteau 6 years ago, new elections were organized in 2019, a year after the outbreak of this affair of electoral fraud and false proxies. It is too early to tell but history could repeat itself in Durbuy. “It is not a political denunciation, it is not a party which denounced and requested an investigation but a judge himself. Which is still different. We can go from innocence to voting again, so let’s let justice do its job. But as I always say, a politician is always campaigning anyway.”
Dominique Gillard will be the provincial deputy for the MR in the province of Luxembourg!
Belgium
