A forest of legs filmed by a camera at the Saint-Exupéry high school (15th), in the northern districts of Marseille. Suddenly, in front of the gate, in confusion, “three little kicks” are “discreetly administered“in two different ankles, observes the prosecutor with a magnifying glass. The upper bodies of the different protagonists are invisible by a black bandage intended to protect public space. It could not technically be erased despite requests from the defense of Sébastien Delogu.This is proof of our good faith. We would not have made this request if we thought that the images thus restored would identify him as the author“, points out the MP's lawyer, Me Taguelmint. “We see that shots are fired from a person wearing pants and shoes of the same color as those of Mr. Delogu“, scrutinizes Me Darmon, the representative of the civil parties.
In a packed courtroom, the public and the magistrates therefore had to be content, Tuesday January 7 afternoon, with this video which does not say much, or very little, to try to form a conviction on a scene dated March 10, 2023. It earned the thunderous rebellious elected official, who does not rule out the idea of being a candidate for mayor of Marseille in 2026, an embarrassing referral to the criminal court for “aggravated violence“.
At the time, the movement against the unpopular pension reform was setting the country in turmoil. A handful of high school students from “Saint-Ex” had decided to block their establishment. Having heard of their project, the principal, his deputy, and the Principal Education Advisor (CPE), who was not supposed to work that day, showed up to prevent the young protesters from blocking the entrance with trash containers.
During the action, a leader was firmly surrounded by the principal, accompanied by police. That morning, Sébastien Delogu was a few dozen meters away, supporting CGT employees of a company on strike. Arriving in front of the high school, surrounded by around twenty employees and teachers, the deputy admits to having “raised his voice” but only after “noting” thata child was belted and thrown to the ground”. In another video, we hear him losing his nerve, exasperated: “I have the scarf! I'm the one who makes the laws!“, he shouts.
“The tone of Mélenchon”
“He was very virulent. He spoke in the same tone as Mélenchon on TV“, curses David R., the deputy principal. According to the latter, the deputy was not content with words: “He stood in front of me, and while speaking with a police officer, he kicked me. I suppose he was hoping for a reaction from me to legitimize the violence he was trying to instigate.r”, estimates the official. The medical-judicial unit noted a bruise of one centimeter, and granted him one day of temporary interruption of work. “In 20 years, I had never been attacked. I was therefore stunned to be struck, for the first time, by an elected representative of the Republic with a blue, white and red scarf.”he storms.
Also at the heart of “pugilism“, Élise L., the CPE, says she wanted to “interpose” in the middle of around twenty people. “That's when I received my first kick. I can't say from whom. Then a second. I can clearly say that it was Mr. Delogu“, assures the complainant. Even if, “in all sincerity, she concedes, I don't think it was addressed to me.” His ITT was also assessed at one day. Violence fiercely contested by the deputy: “I absolutely do not admit to hitting anyone. I hear people are talking about Mélenchon. I wonder if today I'm not here because I'm a political representative“, lightning-t-il.
In the version? “That day, I saw a principal arrive like a bastard, wearing gloves, and assault a student. Yes, I was annoyed. But I played my role as a deputy. I was there to find consensus. To allow student demonstrators to be able to tow in front of the school, without being pushed, and for those who wanted to return, like my great-niece, to be able to do so. Only I was grabbed by the arm and told to get out. All this was set up to drown the fish in the water because it is very serious to touch a student.” In tune with his lawyer, he notes that none of the witnesses questioned by the investigators, teachers, police or staff testified to any beatings on his part. The 37-year-old elected official, with a clean record, himself attacked in justice. His complaint was closed.
“MP to be killed”
Not enough to make the prosecutor, Alain Berthomieu, flinch: “Democracy has nothing to gain from this kind of attitude. An elected official must set an example,” lectures the magistrate, demanding a six-month suspended prison sentence and 1 000 euros fine. “We have the feeling that there is a desire for Mr. Delogu to be condemned” in this “eminently political” case” which was the subject, a few hours after the events, recalls Me Taguelmint, of an indignant tweet from the Ministry of Education of the Borne government.
