French Mayor Faces Scrutiny Over Land Deal and Family Ties
A complaint of illicit interest has been filed in November 2025 against the mayor of Alignan-du-Vent (Hérault), France, concerning the expansion of a local industrial zone. Christophe Pastor is accused of leveraging his connections to ensure his son-in-law, a real estate agent, secured exclusive sales rights for the land.
This complaint arrives at a particularly sensitive time for Mayor Pastor, just three months before the municipal elections. Alain Barasz, a former member of the mayor’s majority, alleges that Pastor misused his position to benefit his family in the sale of private land within the Arbre Blanc industrial zone expansion.
“A Nice Family Affair”
According to the complainant, the mayor’s son-in-law, a real estate agent working with Capifrance, allegedly received preferential treatment, effectively bypassing standard procedures to become the sole seller of the lots.
“This exclusivity is strange,” laments Alain Barasz. “The mayor leads the project, grants the building permit, finds the property developer who purchases the land, and in return, his son-in-law sells it. It’s a nice family affair.”
“It Wasn’t Me Who Granted This Exclusivity,” Says the Mayor
Mayor Pastor vehemently denies the accusations. “This opposition member is trying to create controversy. It wasn’t me who gave my son-in-law the exclusive right to sell these lots. Investigate. It was the developer. Don’t mix everything up. Do your job. I simply followed the instructions of the urban planning department. I approved the development permit. What happens after that, between the developer and the real estate agent, is none of my concern. That’s a private matter.” Sébastien Chappel, the mayor’s son-in-law, also refutes the claims when contacted by ICI Hérault.
The property developer confirms having entrusted six out of eleven lots to the mayor’s son-in-law (whom he has known since 2019), but explicitly denies granting him exclusivity over all the plots. However, the mayor previously stated during an interview (December 16, 2025) that the sale was exclusive. The developer also revealed receiving a phone call from a gendarmerie investigator, who allegedly assured him the complaint would be dismissed.
The complainant, a retired real estate professional, remains unconvinced and presents a screenshot from Sébastien Chappel’s website (Capifrance) showing “exclusivity” listed on each lot. “And if you click on the developer’s website, the commercial section redirects to Capifrance with my son-in-law’s phone number. I provided all this evidence to the Pézenas gendarmerie.”
Did the mayor attempt to favor his family, as suspected by his former ally? A gendarmerie investigation is currently underway, with initial interviews completed.
Olivier Gibal, the previous owner of the land with his parents, has been interviewed by the gendarmerie. He assures ICI Hérault that the property developer is a friend. The land sale occurred in September 2025, two years after the first offers were received. His parents had not yet been interviewed by investigators at the time of reporting.
Will Mediation of This Complaint Be Disruptive Ahead of the Elections?
“The mayor used his personal connections by proposing the developer to the land sellers,” according to Alain Barasz.
“I never proposed this professional to that family. Contact the sellers. They will confirm it. This is defamation once again,” responds the mayor.
A Growing Number of Complaints Against the Incumbent Mayor
Christophe Pastor is already the subject of a complaint for favoritism. He is suspected of having commissioned work at his home by companies contracted by the town hall. “The complaints against him are piling up,” adds Alain Barasz. “Two complaints have been filed by an artisan from the village who was mistreated by the mayor, and they ended up facing each other at the gendarmerie. Is that the behavior of a public official?”
“I regret my involvement with the mayor six years ago,” laments Alain Barasz. “Christophe Pastor is a dictatorial mayor; he decides everything on his own.”
Is the Mayor Considering a Defamation Lawsuit?
Christophe Pastor is not ruling out filing a complaint against Alain Barasz for malicious denunciation and defamation.
“My words are free and disinterested. I am not a candidate for mayor, nor am I on any list,” replies Alain Barasz.
Pastor a Candidate for Re-election?
During our meeting on Tuesday, December 16th, Christophe Pastor declined to state whether he would seek re-election. However, persistent rumors circulate in the village regarding the formation of his electoral list. The mayor remains evasive. “You will find out soon. But I have no difficulty forming a list if I were to run again,” concludes the mayor, highlighting what he considers a “good municipal record.”
Only one list has been officially declared in the municipality: that of Printemps alignanais, led by opposition member Geoffrey Boulade.
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