Ménard trial in Montpellier: Retailleau, Lisnard and Demilly cited as witnesses, Macron absent
The mayor of Béziers Robert Ménard will be tried on 30 September by the Montpellier criminal court. Three heavyweight witnesses will appear; Emmanuel Macron will not attend.
Robert Ménard before Montpellier criminal court on 30 September
The mayor of Béziers Robert Ménard will appear on Wednesday 30 September before the Montpellier criminal court for refusing, in July 2023, to solemnise the marriage of a man subject to an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). He faces up to five years' imprisonment, €75,000 in fines and a sentence of ineligibility.
According to information gathered by midilibre.fr, three personalities have been cited to appear as witnesses in defence of the Béziers mayor.
Bruno Retailleau heading the list
Bruno Retailleau, current president of the Les Républicains party and former Interior Minister, will indeed be among the witnesses — as Le Figaro had already suggested. Retailleau did not hold his ministerial position at the time of the acts alleged against Ménard.
Appearing alongside him will be David Lisnard (Nouvelle Énergie), president of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF). The third witness is senator Stéphane Demilly (Union centriste), who originated a bill of law adopted by the Senate intended to combat simulated or arranged marriages.
Macron will not come
Robert Ménard had announced on LCI his intention to request the President of the Republic to testify: "I am going to ask the head of state to come and testify for me." In May 2025, Emmanuel Macron had described the situation in which the mayor of Béziers found himself as "absurd", adopting the term used by Ménard himself.
However, midilibre.fr indicates that the head of state has not responded in person to the Béziers mayor. His office made known that Emmanuel Macron will not attend Montpellier court on 30 September.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)