Overview
- Philippe Petitqueux submitted his resignation this week, which the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture confirmed on December 3 after weeks of scrutiny over his prolonged absence.
- The mayor had left for Polynesia in July to work on a ropes-park activity and was largely unreachable, prompting complaints from residents and his deputies.
- Indemnities of about €1,000 per month were paid until mid-September, and authorities moved to halt further payments as the situation was formalized.
- Municipal operations were strained by quorum failures, a departed town-hall secretary, and blocked files such as a communal régie not finalized with the INPI.
- Under article 2122-17 of the CGCT, an adjoint will provisionally replace the mayor, with a new mayor to be designated by the council within about 15 days and wider municipal elections due in 2026.