The trial of Robert Ménard, the far-right mayor of Béziers in the Hérault department, began on Wednesday, September 30, in the Montpellier correctional court. Ménard is being tried for refusing to officiate the marriage of Eva M., a French citizen, and Mustapha B., an Algerian man who was under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) at the time. Ménard claimed he suspected the couple of a "marriage of convenience" and argued that a mayor should not be required to marry someone not legally present in France. A few days after the refusal, Mustapha B. was expelled to Algeria, where the couple eventually married in the summer of 2026. They now live separately, with Eva M. remaining in France with their children. Ménard faces up to five years in prison, a fine of 75,000 euros, and a period of ineligibility from public office. The Montpellier prosecutor requested a fine of 7,500 euros, significantly less than the maximum penalty. Ménard stated he would make the same decision again, claiming he would have acted the same way even if the groom had been Chinese. He argued the situation was "unbelievable" and criticized the state for not properly managing the OQTF status. He also claimed he had warned local and national officials before the marriage, saying they were placing him in an impossible situation. Eva M.'s lawyer, Vanessa Edberg, said the couple had to live apart for much of the time due to Ménard’s refusal to marry them. She noted that Eva has three children from previous relationships and cannot move to Algeria, where Mustapha B. works as a sailor. She emphasized the couple had nothing to hide and were not seeking political attention, but rather legal justice. Ménard called on several politicians to testify, including two presidential candidates: David Lisnard, president of the Association of Mayors of France, and Bruno Retailleau, a former interior minister and presidential candidate. Both supported Ménard’s position, with Retailleau stating that marrying the couple would have neutralized a state decision and that he, too, would not have married them. The case has sparked debate, with President Emmanuel Macron having described in 2025 the situation of mayors required to officiate marriages for people in irregular situations as "ubuesque," a term implying something absurd or ridiculous. A proposed law aiming to prohibit such marriages is currently being reviewed by the Assembly's law commission. The Association of Mayors of France supports the law, while the National Association of Cities and Territories Hosting (Anvita) has called it "discriminatory." Ménard described the situation as "absurd" and has asked the head of state for assistance, though Macron will not attend the trial. Ménard has also been sued for public defamation by Mustapha B., whom he falsely claimed had been convicted of "group rape" on television. The trial is expected to be tense, with Ménard predicting he will be condemned, despite having been elected with more than 65% of the vote in the first round six months ago.