The mayor of Béziers, Robert Ménard, is facing legal action for refusing to marry a French woman and an Algerian man in 2023. The man was under an obligation to leave France (OQTF) due to his irregular immigration status.

Ménard rejected a plea deal offered by the prosecutor, which could have included up to five years in prison, a €75,000 fine, and ineligibility for office.

The case has sparked national debate, with some officials supporting Ménard’s stance and calling for legal reforms to allow mayors to refuse marriages involving individuals without legal residency.

A proposed law addressing this issue is set to be debated in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Ménard argues that his actions were in line with his duties to uphold public order, highlighting contradictions in current laws.