Acts “that are of special gravity”. In a decision made public this Friday, the Constitutional Council canceled the election of deputy Meyer Habib, deputy for French residents abroad, related to the group Les Républicains (LR).
He won against Deborah Abisror-De Lieme, majority candidate in the 8th constituency of French residents abroad (Italy, Malta, San Marino, Holy See, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Israel). Only 193 votes separated the two candidates.
On the day of the second round of the legislative elections, “supporters of Mr. Habib” spread “messages on various social networks calling people to vote for the candidate,” the agency said.
However, recall the Wise Men, “from the day before the election at midnight, it is prohibited to transmit or have transmitted by any means of communication to the public by electronic means any message that has the character of electoral propaganda.”
Irregularities “that can alter the sincerity of the ballot”
They point out that “in view of their content and the timing of their dissemination, it is probable that these messages have influenced the vote of a significant number of voters.”
Next, the Constitutional Council indicates that Meyer Habib “has set up hotlines and help centers, mobilizing a significant number of operators for voters who have difficulties voting electronically.”
During these calls, “voters may have been irregularly offered to vote online for them using their usernames and passwords.” “Such acts, which are of particular gravity, must be considered as maneuvers”, write the Sages.
Conclusion: “These irregularities and maneuvers, given the difference in votes observed in the second round, were likely to alter the sincerity of the vote.”
Source: BFM TV
