Yves Foulon, LR mayor of Arcachon, re-elected in the first round of the municipal elections on Sunday, March 15, was caught on film in a heated altercation with Vital Baude, a left-wing candidate and outgoing Green Party city councilor during the election. In response to threats and insults, Vital Baude filed a complaint.
Just after being re-elected, Yves Foulon found himself in trouble. The LR mayor of Arcachon was filmed on March 15, in front of a polling station, personally threatening and verbally abusing Vital Baude, his left-wing rival in the municipal elections, who was previously an outgoing Green Party city councilor. The media outlet Vakita revealed the video, captured without Yves Foulon’s knowledge but as part of a planned report on Vital Baude’s election campaign.
“If I could trap you behind the garbage cans…”
“You’re a son of a b“, “you’re an a**,” “you’re a piece of s*,” “you’re a total a****” – to these extremely violent insults, Vital Baude calmly responded, “It’s not appropriate for a mayor to say that. (…) That’s not how we should behave.”
Apart from the insults, Yves Foulon threatened to physically attack his opponent and also made remarks about his family. “If I could trap you behind the garbage cans, I would be delighted to give you a beating,” “It’s going to be terrible for you and your family” or “I feel like headbutting you.”
Vital Baude filed a complaint. The day after the altercation, he answered questions from Vakita and found it “shocking that a mayor could have such remarks.” “These are actions that cannot be tolerated from the city’s chief executive,” he added.
Yves Foulon released a statement after the video was revealed by Vakita. He claimed to have been “provoked by Mr. Baude, in a tense exchange that is not shown” in the footage. Despite this, he still offered an apology. The dispute with Vital Baude “led to inappropriate behavior on my part,” he stated. “Making statements that I deeply regret, I want to publicly and totally apologize to all those whom I may have offended or hurt.”
Olivier Faure calls on Bruno Retailleau to expel Yves Foulon from the Republicans
What was the cause of Yves Foulon’s anger? The Villa Salès, a heritage property located on the seafront of Arcachon. Foulon bought and demolished this residence to build his own house, which is still under construction today. During the campaign, Vital Baude denounced the demolition of this heritage villa, something he would never have allowed if he had been in charge of the city’s affairs. This is why Yves Foulon lost his temper.
After the video of the altercation was revealed, Marine Tondelier responded on X and called Yves Foulon “a disgrace to the Republic.” She urged him to resign. On the other hand, Olivier Faure asked Bruno Retailleau to “exclude this mayor with thug-like behavior” from the Republicans. Bruno Retailleau simply asked Yves Foulon to apologize.
Published on March 18 at 14:28, by Maeliss Innocenti, 6Medias.
