The National Rally mayor of Carcassonne, Christophe Barthès, announced on Wednesday the immediate suspension of "all those involved" appearing in the video revealed by Midi Libre , in which several municipal police officers make racist, misogynistic, homophobic, conspiratorial, and coup-plotting remarks. The incident, recorded in November 2025 without the officers' knowledge by a body camera that was left on, has sparked a major national controversy.
Speaking to reporters, Christophe Barthès condemned the remarks, calling them "disgusting" and "inexcusable." "I condemn them in the strongest possible terms because they in no way reflect the values of unity that we uphold within the majority," he declared. He also clarified that the main police officer implicated was not the head of the municipal police, contrary to what had been reported.
Barthès insists on a matter that predates his arrival
The mayor was keen to point out that the events date back to November 2025, several months before his election as mayor in March 2026. "This video dates back eight months, a period during which we were not in positions of responsibility in Carcassonne," he emphasized, directly implicating the former municipality, which he accuses of having allowed the matter to fester.
In a statement released earlier today, the city also claims that the body camera that captured the footage was "stolen," raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the retrieval and dissemination of the recordings. The municipality asserts that a complete overhaul of the municipal police force's operations has been underway since the new team took office, based on three principles: "professionalism, discipline, and exemplary conduct."
The National Rally had already suspended the chief brigadier from its security service
The main officer implicated, a chief brigadier and former soldier, also volunteered his services to the Department of Protection and Security, the National Rally 's security service . The party announced his suspension from this organization on Wednesday morning. Laurent Jacobelli, speaking on BFMTV , demanded an "exemplary sanction," even calling for his expulsion from the National Rally and his departure from the municipal police force.
A judicial investigation had already been opened by the Carcassonne public prosecutor's office in January 2026, while an administrative inquiry had been launched by the city. Christophe Barthès now promises that "the sanctions will be commensurate with the seriousness of the facts," while seeking to clearly separate this affair from his current municipal team.
