Isère: Attacked Mayor Feeling Better, Unauthorized Wall Causes Conflict

The mayor of Villeneuve-de-Marc (Isère), violently attacked late Wednesday afternoon, is still hospitalized in Lyon this Thursday, but his life is no longer in danger, announced the Vienne prosecutor's office, which has opened an investigation for "attempted murder of a person in a position of public authority."

The alleged perpetrator remains at large. The police are actively seeking his arrest.

Gilles Dussault, 63, a town councillor in this village of fewer than 1,200 inhabitants, was attacked while walking along a local street with his 28-year-old son, reports Le Dauphiné Libéré .

According to the initial investigation, the suspect "attacked the mayor with a bladed weapon," striking him "three times in the chest." The prosecutor's office went on to explain: "He then left the scene before returning in his vehicle. He then attempted to hit the mayor and his son, who managed to avoid him. He ended up running against a wall, damaging the vehicle, and then fled on foot after punching the mayor's son." The mayor was hospitalized in Vienna.

According to Health Minister Yannick Neuder, interviewed on TF1, Gilles Dussault wanted to meet the suspect who had "offended by building an unauthorized wall. It's basically a town planning issue." A hypothesis confirmed by our colleagues at Dauphiné Libéré : "The motive for the attack is linked to a conflict between the resident and the mayor over a town planning issue in the commune."

"When an elected official is attacked, the nation stands by them. When its representatives are attacked, the Republic must be severe and uncompromising," President Emmanuel Macron reacted Wednesday evening on X. "Everything is being done to find and condemn the perpetrator of this cowardly act," he added.