French Mayor Faces Trial Over Refusal to Marry Algerian Under Deportation Order
Robert Ménard, mayor of Béziers, rejected a plea deal and will stand trial for refusing to marry a French woman and an Algerian man with an expulsion order.
- Robert Ménard, mayor of Béziers, declined a plea deal and will face trial for refusing to marry a French citizen and an Algerian man under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF).
- The case has sparked significant political debate, with some lawmakers and officials supporting Ménard's actions as 'common sense' and calling for urgent legal reforms.
- Ménard risks up to five years in prison, a €75,000 fine, and a potential ban from holding public office if convicted.
- The French Senate is set to review a proposed law that would bar marriages involving individuals residing illegally in France, with support from the Interior and Justice Ministers.
- Critics, including the couple's lawyer, argue that Ménard violated existing laws and obstructed legal authority, while the bride-to-be continues to advocate for her right to marry her fiancé.
l'Opinion 
Ouest-France 
Le Point 
Le Journal du Dimanche 
Le Figaro 
Le Nouvel Obs 
Sud Ouest 