In Montpellier, a shocking scene erupted during a political gathering of several environmental figures. City councilors Marie Massart and Coralie Mantion came to blows, involving a thrown coffee cup and hair-pulling. This surprising incident occurred on the sidelines of an event aimed at uniting environmentalists ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
A seemingly peaceful gathering On Saturday, December 6, a political gathering was held in the recently renovated Place Max-Rouquette, located at the foot of the Arceaux shopping center in Montpellier. Organized by Manu Reynaud, a key figure in theEcologists for Montpellier
this event aimed to bring together around one hundred environmental activists and supporters with a view to future collaboration with left-wing forces.
The discussions took an unexpected turn, particularly around a seemingly innocuous object: a cargo bike used during the 2019 and 2020 election campaigns by Europe Ecology – The Greens. This symbol of sustainable mobility exacerbated latent tensions between the two elected officials.
The incident: a quarrel over a cargo bike
Around 12:45 p.m., the situation escalated between Marie Massart, deputy mayor, and Coralie Mantion, a city councilor. Disagreeing with the approach adopted by the Green Party, an ally of the municipal majority, Coralie Mantion wanted to reclaim the cargo bike. The conflict took an unexpected turn when Marie Massart decided to film the scene with her cell phone.
Annoyed by this action, Coralie Mantion reportedly tried to stop her. In response, Marie Massart threw her coffee cup at Coralie, who retaliated by pulling her hair, transforming this verbal disagreement into a physical confrontation.
Legal consequences and the silence of the protagonists. Following this prohibited event, the two elected officials initiated legal proceedings. Marie Massart, particularly shocked by the altercation, filed a complaint with the police on December 6. Coralie Mantion followed suit, filing her complaint the next day. These complaints confirm the seriousness of the incident, which was recorded in the police station’s archives.
Despite their presence at the metropolitan council meeting on December 9, Coralie Mantion refused to comment on the incident, illustrating the tense atmosphere that persists between the two elected officials. This situation highlights the internal divisions within the Montpellier Greens. Political stakes ahead of the 2026 municipal elections