Agde, a Mediterranean town known for its sandy beaches and sunny climate, also has a reputation for its thriving swinger community, attracting thousands of couples annually from across Europe for partner-swapping events. However, the town is currently engulfed in a scandal involving its mayor, Gilles d’Ettore, and a local fortune teller, Sophia Martinez, both now in jail under judicial investigation.
Martinez, known for claiming to communicate with the dead, is accused of embezzling the mayor, while d’Ettore faces corruption charges for lavishly spending public funds on her. The scandal began when the mayor, a former secret service officer and police officer, sought Martinez’s help to contact his deceased father. Martinez allegedly manipulated the mayor over four years, using ventriloquist skills to impersonate his father and other “voices” from the dead, which persuaded him to fund extravagant holidays for her and her family and hire her relatives for town council jobs, all on the public’s dime.
The mayor’s lawyer, Jean Marc Darrigade, has become an overnight sensation, describing the situation as “incredible” and emphasizing how an intelligent man like the mayor could be so thoroughly deceived. He attributes the mayor’s downfall to a mental vulnerability that Martinez exploited. In contrast, Martinez’s lawyer, Luc Abratkiewicz, argues that while she betrayed the mayor’s trust, she did so openly, and her other clients, including doctors and architects, also believed in her mystical powers.
Locals believe the scandal may be tied to the town’s sexually charged atmosphere. At a café near the town hall, a customer named Jean-Max expressed sympathy for the mayor, suggesting he might have been in love with Martinez. Another local hinted that sex was central to the scandal, especially given the financial element involved.
The far-right Rassemblement National party, gaining traction in the region, has seized on the scandal. Fabienne Varesano, a prominent local politician from the party, has called for the mayor’s resignation, criticizing his misuse of taxpayer money and declaring that he has made a mockery of the town.
To prevent potential witness tampering, a judge has ordered both the mayor and Martinez to remain in custody, with Martinez placed in solitary confinement following an assault in prison, where inmates accused her of witchcraft.
