Closure of the buvette des halles: legal decision or act of the prince?

La buvette des halles fermée pour une semaine. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Mayor Max Roustan invokes his judicial police power to validate the decision to close the refreshment bar for a week.

This Saturday morning, the mayor of Alès, Max Roustan, is leaning on the counter of the buvette des halles. His courtesy visit, or after-sales service, has a particular flavor since he has just announced the closure of the business for a week.

Jean-Michel Bonhomme, greengrocer and manager of the refreshment bar, renowned for his direct tone and strong words, is a divisive personality in the market.

On Saturday February 10, Christophe Rivenq, first deputy of the City, had the bitter experience. A distribution of fines against traders parked in the squares near the temporary halls ignited the powder.

In flowery terms, the cafe owner would have complained about the treatment they would receive. The tone is lively, even spicy.

Was this shaky sanction negotiated ?

Christophe Rivenq would not have appreciated this unjustified attack. The response was quick, and this Friday the merchant was informed of his sanction: a closure from February 26 to March 3 inclusive.

Surprisingly, the decision does not appear on any notice board at the town hall and after an official request to the department concerned, no municipal decree has been published. On what legal basis was this sanction taken and how is it justified??

" I do what I want… as part of my duties as mayor "

Questioned on this subject at the counter of the buvette des halles, Max Roustan delivers a very Roustanian response between two handshakes and three hugs: "I do what I want, when I want and how I want… within the framework of my functions and the authority conferred as mayor."

Max Roustan refers to his status as a judicial police officer, to the agreement recently signed with the Alès public prosecutor's office to issue reminders of the law and to the proposed law currently being discussed for the security of elected officials. "From the moment there is any trouble, I can act. We are in this situation."

Jean-Michel Bonhomme seems to have support within the town hall itself since a copy of the document informing him of his punishment, although distributed in a restricted manner, resulted in Free Midi.

The leaked document from the town hall

The document mentions insults and threats made against Christophe Rivenq. Facts that could be classified as criminal, and therefore subject to the action of the local public prosecutor's office. As a reminder, only the prosecutor has the opportunity to prosecute. It is surprising to observe that in this case, the town hall is judge and party: it positions itself as a potential victim, ensures the investigation of the case, and pronounces the sanction.< /p>

The town hall seems to have favored a “house” to apply a sanction but without resorting to a traditional procedure. "We wash our laundry as a family. We do this between us,” confirms Max Roustan. To justify its decision to close, the town hall even refers to a previous incident. This case was however decided in law at the Alès court.

Questioned about his situation, the merchant evades the question and is content with a shrug: "That’s life."& nbsp;Perhaps he fears reprisals during the allocation of stalls in the new market halls ?

To the great surprise of the public, the refreshment bar is closed. No municipal decree is posted to justify the closure of the business.

I subscribe to read more