"Despite our pain, his record obliges us": Toulon Mayor Josée Massi reacts to Hubert Falco's final sentence

"The greatest mayor in the history of our city." These are the words with which the current mayor of Toulon, Josée Massi, described Hubert Falco when reacting to his final conviction in the so-called "fridge" affair .

On Wednesday, May 28, the Court of Cassation upheld the conviction on the merits of the former chief magistrate, found guilty of "concealing embezzlement of public funds," who will therefore remain ineligible until 2028.

Josée Massi, who has held the mayor's chair since May 2023 and the withdrawal of her former mentor's mandate, unsurprisingly reacted to this decision in a press release, a few hours after the announcement.

"I am thinking of him, and I renew all my affection for him, as well as that of our municipal majority. I am convinced that he also has the support of a large part of the population of Toulon, who elected him mayor four times, including three times in the first round" , she first recalls, before highlighting the record of a "builder mayor" , who has "breathed new dynamism into Toulon, restored the image of our city, and given back confidence and pride to the people of Toulon".

"Through hard work," assures the former deputy of the condemned man, "he transformed Toulon like no one had done before, with passion, dedication, and a vision resolutely turned towards the future."

Josée Massi and her supporters must now prepare for the near future, as municipal elections are scheduled for 2026 and several opponents have begun to advance their positions. She announced: "Despite our grief, his record obliges us. We will meet soon with him and our municipal team to prepare the future of Toulon together."