Rodrigue Petitot, leader of the movement against the high cost of living, is condemned for “acts of intimidation” against elected officials

Two cases before the criminal court in two weeks, and already a conviction: in Martinique, the movement against the high cost of living, launched at the beginning of September by a young association, is now taking a legal turn. Monday, December 2, Rodrigue Petitot, president of the Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC) – the collective which has organized, over the past three months, numerous demonstrations to demand a reduction in the prices of food products in the island's supermarkets – was found guilty of acts of intimidation against Martinican elected officials in a video broadcast on November 26 on social networks. The Fort-de-France criminal court sentenced the 42-year-old association leader to ten months' imprisonment under an electronic bracelet.

“The comments you made constitute acts of intimidation against elected officials in Martinique, in particular mayors”declared Thomas Lamorelle, the president of the court, late in the evening, after thirteen hours of hearing. The magistrate then ordered the adjustment of Mr. Petitot's sentence “in the form of home detention under electronic surveillance” and reminded the defendant that he had ten days to appeal.

Already arrested on November 12 and placed under judicial supervision, after two days of police custody, for having burst into the residence of the prefect of Martinique, Jean-Christophe Bouvier, while the minister responsible for overseas territories was beginning a trip to Martinique, Mr. Petitot found himself once again in the crosshairs of the justice system. Very active on social networks, the president of the RPPRAC filmed himself, as he usually does, during a long monologue broadcast live on his TikTok account, followed by thousands of supporters who nickname him “the R”. During this sequence, he demanded the departure of the prefect and urged the city councilors of Martinique to close the town halls as a sign of support.

“All those who will not close their town halls will show us which side they are on”hammered, in Creole, the leader of the movement against the high cost of living, who criticized the State representative for having denigrated Martinican elected officials during an interview broadcast a few days earlier on the public channel Martinique La 1ère. “Believe me, we will attack you. We won't do you any favors.”he added, for the attention of mayors who would not comply with his injunction.

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