Subject to the provisions of the fourth paragraph of article 121-3 of the Penal Code, the president of the regional council or a regional councillor deputising for him or having received a delegation may only be convicted on the basis of the third paragraph of the same article for unintentional acts committed in the exercise of his functions if it is established that he did not take the normal care in view of his competences, the power and means at his disposal and the difficulties specific to the missions entrusted to him by law.
The region is obliged to grant its protection to the president of the regional council, to the regional councillor deputising for him or her or who has received a delegation, or to one of these elected representatives who has ceased to hold office, when he or she is the subject of criminal proceedings in respect of acts which do not constitute misconduct detachable from the performance of his or her duties.