Following a complaint, it was learned on Wednesday that Maël de Calan, the president of the Finistère Department, and Romain Chantelot, his director of employment, integration, and housing, are the subject of a direct summons to appear before the criminal court of Brest.
The accusation is brought by the CGT and six RSA beneficiaries and targets “institutional moral harassment”. The procedure will officially begin on March 30 with a consignment hearing, as confirmed by the department’s office on Wednesday. The substantive proceedings are not expected to commence until the beginning of 2027, according to Me Franck Carpentier, the union’s lawyer.
At the heart of this 75-page summons, the civil party aims to demonstrate the systemic nature of the offense by relying on a fraud radiation rate of 39.8% in the department in 2024. This figure is well above the national average (1.96%).
Ludovic Morin, general secretary of the CGT in Finistère, speaks of “heart-wrenching and enlightening testimonies” from many beneficiaries, while mentioning “abusive checks” where “incredibly complicated administrative documents are required to obtain”. According to the CGT, the case is supported by around twenty testimonies, such as that of a 44-year-old farmer who has been under administrative scrutiny since May 2025 for failing to justify a simple Christmas gift from a grandfather.
Kevin Faure, a socialist opposition councilor in the department and supporter of the CGT’s appeal, stated on Wednesday that the department shows “an authoritarian conception of public action”. The Brest councilor also points out that if beneficiaries have duties, “they also have rights.”
Context: Maël de Calan, president of the Finistère Department, and his director are facing allegations of institutional moral harassment made by the CGT and six RSA beneficiaries.
Fact Check: The proceedings are set to begin on March 30, but the substantive trial is not expected until 2027. The department’s executive denies the accusations, accusing the opposition of political motives.
