We have lived happily in a popular village in the Charente for nearly six years and have accumulated an impression that our generally anti-English Maire has not acted fairly or legally. Examples are:
Selling a commune property at well below market value to a friend
Letting that friend paint a mural on a public wall for money but refuse to disclose how much,.
Advised that permission to paint a house would only be given if the work was done by a local builder.
Refused to allow an English resident to have UPC windows, despite allowing them for their French neighbour ābecause thatās them and this is youā.
So, Iām interested to know whether in France there any legal checks and balances on the activities of Maires, or is it all left to the ballot box?
Do you know your Member of the National Assembly of France?
They doubtless have a āsurgeryā and you might be able to talk this over face to face.
Iām suggesting thatā¦ as I do know oursā¦ and would be comfortable posing any such questions if I needed toā¦ and would be given good, accurate advice.
Others will chime inā¦ there might well be a ārouteā to followā¦ but, as our Maires have been fabulous for the last 30 yearsā¦ the situation such as you are experiencing has not arisenā¦ hence I donāt know the ārouteā.
As non-French citizens, Stella, do you know if we have rights of access to NA members? I only ask because, although a British citizen, I was refused access to my former MP ābecause I didnāt live in the constituencyā. Anna Soubry told me, via an aide, that it was against the law.
Good riddance to her, her predecessor, Nick Palmer, was very accessible and brilliant, with no such qualms. He saved us from an expensive government mistake.
If you are talking about UK and not being allowed access in that countryā¦ I cannot comment.
I can only comment on French stuffā¦ and I know that local surgeries are held across Franceā¦ and that everyone is welcome to go and talk things throughā¦
However for many things if the maire has the backing of his or her conseil it can be difficult to make accusations stick. Some friends of ours had exactly the same issue with velux windows (because they were gay, rather than being British). The ended up having to take the case to the high court - where they won the case but lost all their friends in the village.
Personally I wouldnāt go there Rob. If thereās anti-English sentiment now what do you think thereāll be after your challenges? Itās up to you of course but itās not a battle Iād embark on.
Always be politeā¦ if your āunfriendly localsā choose to ignore your polite/cheery Bonjourā¦ that is up to themā¦ you will be in the rightā¦ and they put themselves in the wrong by ālooking awayā without acknowledging ā¦ so stick with it.
(I have proved that the ākill 'em with kindnessā can workā¦ but in the instance I recall, it took a few years)
If this is still an issue for you, I can confirm that, if you are still on the electoral register as living abroad, you are entitled to representation by your MP. ( Subject to the 15 year rule )
I had this issue with my Berxiteer Conservative MP and took it up with my local electoral officer, who confirmed I was correct.
If you need, I think I still have a link to the references in Hansard that confirm the point.
Thank you Andy, but that was years ago and we are way beyond the 15 year rule. It was not that I had a specific problem, as I recall, but it was the sheer ignorance of even not speaking to someone which got my goat. And I know it was bull, people talk to MPs of other constituencies all the time. But we have moved on, and so has she, thankfully.
Funnily enough I had a similar experience of the, British, Euro member too, just after he had canvassed my vote at my address here in France. My vote went elsewhere, and he was kicked out too.
@Stella That link does not recognise La Dordogne, Dordogne or dordogne. Nor the commune.
The only person that I recall being unfriendly was not French, but Quebecois, so I suppose he had/has an ancient axe to grind. Mind you the locals werenāt keen on him either, taking the piss out of his accent (something they never do with the English) when he was once called upon to take over reading the balls at the lotto. What did he say?, what was that? and louder, QUOIS ?? were the common asides etc. I know they understood really and so did I.
I did just what was asked, filled in commune and then department, and, in both cases it said it wasnāt recognised. Anyway, the rep for our area is the bald one at the bottom, No 3, but he is the only one who doesnāt appear to have a name.
Ah got him now, M. Jean-Pierre Cubertafon. Thank you.
but in the instance I recall, it took a few years)
were the common asides etc. I know they understood really and so did I. 
