Marseille (France) (AFP) – The former mayor of Toulon, Hubert Falco, will be tried on December 18 for "illegal taking of interests" and "embezzlement of public funds" after hiring and promoting his son-in-law at the Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée, the prosecution announced on Sunday evening.

Published on: 08/11/2026 - 22:06

The Toulon prosecutor, Raphaël Balland, specified in a press release that he was prosecuting Hubert Falco for having recruited Michaël de Peretti, son of his partner (who became his wife in 2018), in April 2016.

Hired first as a "wave driver", his son-in-law then benefited from several internal promotions including tenure as a territorial technician, before being made available in April 2023 to the Villa Nouailles, a prestigious contemporary art center in Hyères (Var).

These “atypical” promotions accompanied by salary increases took place “despite very numerous work stoppages, poor ratings and significant absenteeism”, stipulate the citations issued for the hearing of the Toulon criminal court.

Hubert Falco is also accused of having signed a promotion in 2018 within the administrative services of the Metropolis for the partner of Michaël de Peretti, even though she had increased the number of sick leaves while working "10 months over a period of six years and three months".

On December 18, the son-in-law will be tried in this case for “concealment” of illegal taking of interests and embezzlement of funds. His partner is referred to justice for concealment of illegal taking of interests.

Mr. Falco was sentenced in April 2023 to three years in prison and five years of ineligibility with immediate effect for concealment of embezzlement of public funds. At issue: meals and dry cleaning costs paid by the Var departmental council when he no longer directed it.

His ineligibility having been accompanied by provisional execution, Hubert Falco, ex-LR who had moved to the Macronist camp, was dismissed from his mandate as mayor of Toulon and president of his metropolis in the days following the first instance judgment.

The Court of Cassation confirmed in May 2025 the five-year ineligibility sentence handed down on appeal in 2024 against him, effectively preventing the former mayor of Toulon from running in the municipal elections.

cm/cal

© 2026 AFP

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