Former mayor of Saint-Tropez indicted for favoritism

According to elements of the investigation known to AFP, Mr. Tuveri, various right-wing mayor from 2008 to 2020, is suspected of having violated the principle of equality of candidates when awarding the development contract of the convent sector, the slab of the lists and the old hospital.

Four candidates submitted an offer and in 2011 the municipal council accepted that of Kaufman & Broad Provence.

“No, I did not favor the Kaufman & Broad company,” Mr. Tuveri defended himself before the investigating judge in June 2023, emphasizing that the case was “extremely complex”.

The investigating magistrate pointed out in particular that the municipal council had voted on several amending permits subsequent to the granting of the concession, which may have provided undue financial advantages to the chosen company.

Among the changes, a greater number of social housing units, and therefore more public subsidies and tax exemptions, than initially planned, and a fifth level of parking, increasing revenues.

For Mr. Tuveri, aged 85, the changes took place in particular to take into account the remarks of State services on the nature of the project.

Alongside the complaint with party constitution that it had filed in Paris, one of the unsuccessful companies, Société Anonyme Gardienne d'Économie Mixte (Sagem), initiated proceedings before the administrative courts, which are still ongoing. .

She is demanding 50 million euros in compensation from the municipality for having been evicted irregularly.

After multiple twists and turns, on May 24, the Council of State finally annulled the decision of the Marseille administrative court of appeal which had declared the municipality responsible for the damage and ordered an expert opinion on the assessment of the shortfall. The case is referred to the administrative court.

“This decision weakens the examination” of Mr. Tuveri, reacted his lawyer Mr. Bruno Lombard, contacted by AFP. “It’s a balloon which is deflating today and which had been exploited by the meager opposition in Saint-Tropez and the Sagem company.”