Court rejects complaints against elected officials

The administrative court in Montpellier dismissed two legal challenges brought by voters against the election of Paulette Gougeon and her political group "Mon parti c’est Lunel," which won the second round of local elections on March 22, 2026. The court issued its decisions on October 13, rejecting both complaints in separate rulings.

First complaint focuses on campaign expenses

The first complaint was filed on March 26 by Michel Guy, who argued that the election should be annulled due to alleged violations of campaign finance rules. He claimed that articles published in the municipal newspaper Lunel Ose (issues 54 to 56) should have been counted as campaign expenses, as they promoted the list's slogan and highlighted the municipal record.

Court dismisses claims about newspaper costs

The court rejected Michel Guy’s argument, stating that there was no concrete evidence to support the claim that the newspaper articles should be included in the campaign budget. It also dismissed other points raised, such as the cost of a public meeting, parking restrictions, and the use of a road for a gathering.

Second complaint targets salary inclusion

The second complaint, filed on the same day by Laurence Mas, argued that the salaries of the mayor's cabinet director and the campaign director should have been included in the campaign account. She also claimed that the candidate improperly used the city’s website and social media for campaign purposes.

Court rejects claims about website use

The court dismissed Laurence Mas’s allegations, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the city’s resources were misused for the campaign. It also rejected her claims about the salaries of the mayor's staff, finding no legal basis for their inclusion in the campaign finances.