Jean Lassalle

The Bordeaux prosecutor's office closes the investigation opened in 2023 without further action, stating that the enquiries failed to establish that a criminal offence had occurred.

State of the evidence

Documented

Lassalle's appointment as Alliance rurale's lead candidate for the European elections, replacing Willy Schraen, prompts five candidates to withdraw. One denounces a 'farce' and an agreement reached 'behind closed doors'.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2023, the Bordeaux prosecutor's office opens a preliminary investigation following a complaint targeting Lassalle over alleged rape and sexual assault dating from approximately 2010. The proceedings are separate from the public testimonies of 2017.

State of the evidence

Documented

During the second round of the presidential election, Lassalle publicly stages his abstention at his polling station, speaks beside the ballot box and immediately publishes the video. The Constitutional Council finds that he breached the prohibition on campaigning on polling day and undermined the dignity of electoral proceedings; all 90 votes cast in the municipality are annulled.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In support of the yellow vest movement, Lassalle wears a fluorescent vest in the National Assembly chamber despite repeated requests to remove it. The incident causes the sitting to be suspended and becomes one of his most widely reported parliamentary actions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Lassalle travels to Syria with several French MPs and meets Bashar al-Assad. On his return, he publicly states that he now has 'many doubts' about bombings attributed to the Syrian regime, triggering controversy about legitimising Assad and the reliability of his account.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The CNCCFP finds that the accounting presentation of Lassalle's presidential campaign accounts fails to comply with its instructions and could have justified rejection. It removes, among other items, €5,256 in car repairs, €267 in dry-cleaning and €200 for a property valuation considered personal expenditure, as well as other ineligible expenses.

State of the evidence

Documented

Amid the #BalanceTonPorc movement, several women describe conduct they attribute to Lassalle: touching buttocks, sexist remarks, inappropriate gestures or attempted sexual assault. The case conflicts with his affable public image and prompts substantial controversy.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Lassalle undertakes a 39-day hunger strike inside the National Assembly to prevent Toyal's expansion outside Accous, loses 21 kg and is hospitalised. An agreement is signed with the state and Japanese group and presented as a victory. Months later, Le Monde observes that nothing has changed and Toyal criticises the agreement, claiming it is costly and asking to be released from it.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Jean Lassalle sings the Béarn anthem in the National Assembly chamber to draw the Interior Minister's attention to a security problem in his constituency. Calls to order have no effect and the sitting is disrupted.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated