Jean-Louis Masson, president of the Var Departmental Council, tried in October for illegal taking of interests

A cold snap in the middle of summer for the former mayor of La Garde. Jean-Louis Masson has been sent to the correctional court for illegal taking of interest. His trial will take place on October 17, as revealed by Marianne this Wednesday , information confirmed to Var-matin .

Complaint filed two and a half years ago

The proceedings originated from a complaint filed in December 2022 by the opposition group Unis pour La Garde. They accuse Jean-Louis Masson, who had since become president of the Departmental Council, of having participated in votes concerning Sagem and Sagep, two semi-public companies responsible for city planning. The problem: he also chaired the boards of directors of these structures and, as such, received a salary of €21,000 per year. The events allegedly took place between 2015 and 2022 (except for the period from 2017 to 2020, during which Jean-Louis Masson traded his French sash for a seat on the benches of the National Assembly).

“Exemplarity, a requirement for all elected officials”

Julia Peironet-Brémond, leader of Unis pour La Garde, makes no secret of her satisfaction at seeing this legal battle come to a successful conclusion. "We have decided to file a civil suit to defend the best interests of our city. This action will be led by our lawyer, Mr. Callen. It will, of course, be up to the courts to decide, and everyone remains presumed innocent until convicted. But this case highlights an essential requirement: elected officials must be exemplary," asserts the woman who has already announced her candidacy for the 2026 municipal elections.

"It was in good faith," pleads Jean-Louis Masson.

The former mayor of La Garde intends to defend his arguments before the judge. "I participated in these votes in good faith, like almost all elected officials at the time, " he explains. "Especially since there was no personal interest on my part. I have my conscience on my side. I could have understood if pressure was put on the members of the municipal council to vote, but that was never the case."

The President of the Departmental Council adds to his argument: "What I am being criticized for was before the vote on the 3DS law (1). Since then, as it requires, the elected officials concerned systematically leave the room at the time of the votes. Moreover, this is not without causing problems. No one is then present to be able to answer any questions from the assembly, particularly from the opposition."

Jean-Louis Masson risks a sentence of ineligibility, potentially accompanied by provisional execution.

1. Law 3 DS relating to differentiation, decentralization, deconcentration and containing various measures to simplify local public action was passed on February 21, 2022.