Court confirmed Gérard Spinelli's victory in the Beausoleil mayoral election

On 11 September the administrative court of Nice dismissed the appeals of the two losing candidates from the March municipal elections in Beausoleil. The victory of the incumbent mayor Gérard Spinelli, who received 54.09% of the vote, was declared lawful.

Court decision

The court heard the appeals of Nicolas Spinelli and Livio Orsi on 11 September. Father and son Spinelli ran a tense campaign, but in March the incumbent mayor Gérard Spinelli won 54.09% of the vote and retained his post. His son received 37.90%, Livio Orsi — 8.01%.

Both complaints were found to be inadmissible: the voting results are confirmed as final.

Opponents’ claims

In their court submissions the losing candidates pointed to possible violations. Livio Orsi claimed that the mayor used municipal resources for his campaign and organised transport for voters on election day. Nicolas Spinelli reported campaign events funded by the city — ceremonial openings and New Year greetings.

• Use of municipal vehicles.
• Conducting campaigning actions during the pre-election period.

The court did not find sufficient grounds to annul the results.

Consequences for Livio Orsi

The court separately examined the financial side of his campaign. All expenses — €2,137 for the printing of ballots and campaign materials — were paid directly by Livio Orsi, bypassing a financial representative, although the electoral code requires one. The breach was deemed serious and intentional: it concerned all declared expenditures. But, taking into account the amount involved and that it was his first time running, the court limited the sanction to a six-month ban from standing in elections from the date the decision comes into force.

His election to the municipal council has been annulled, and the mandate passes to the next on the list — Mélanie Pereira Silva de Freitas.

Livio Orsi himself called the decision “disproportionate” and “absurd”: in his words, he had merely failed to register a financial representative in time. He said he would appeal the decision to the Council of State and considers the appeal suspensive, — and eleven days before the Senate elections on 27 September he was still listed as heading his list on the Senate’s official website.

The situation in Beausoleil

Beausoleil is a small town on the border with Monaco, where political battles often go beyond ordinary competition. The confrontation between father and son Spinelli is a striking example. Despite the court proceedings, the town is going about its everyday life, and the new municipal council has already taken office.

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Photo: amine photographe / Pexels