Protesters demand the dissolution of the La Malène municipal council in front of the prefecture in Mende

Une cinquantaine de manifestants ont donné de la voix devant la préfecture de la Lozère. MIDI LIBRE – Michel Pieyre

Vendredi 3 mai 2024 en début d’après-midi, une cinquantaine de manifestants ont fait du bruit sous les fenêtres de la préfecture de la Lozère, pour réclamer la dissolution du conseil municipal de La Malène.

A concert of pots and pans animated the gathering of around fifty demonstrators under the windows of the Lozère prefecture in Mende, Friday May 3, 2024 in the early afternoon. A mobilization to demand the dissolution of the municipal council of the commune of La Malène, around 134 inhabitants and eleven municipal councilors, and a mayor Régine Doussière, elected since 2020. Since the municipal elections, the village has been the scene of controversies following a cascade of resignations of municipal councilors.

A return to the polls requested

"Yes to the return of democracy to the commune of La Malène" or even "4 years of autocracy… Fed up" we could read on signs brandished by the demonstrators.

Nina Combet, municipal councilor present before the prefecture, summarized the reasons for the anger: "There were dysfunctions traced back to the -prefecture with a mediation phase. It didn't work. Councilors resigned, leading to by-elections. The list proposed to replace those who resigned was elected. It's been a year and a half and we are not moving forward with the mayor. There is a total lack of transparency."

According to her, a collective was formed to demand the dissolution of the municipal council in order to be able to return to the polls.