Gérald Darmanin fears “acts of great violence”

A new gathering is planned from July 16 to 21 near Sainte-Soline in Deux-Sèvres, fifteen months after the violent clashes during the banned demonstration against the megabasins.

“Unfortunately, there will undoubtedly be violence.”declared Gérald Darmanin on Monday July 15 on franceinfo in the run-up to the anti-basin rally planned for July 16 to 21 in Melle, about fifteen kilometers from Saint-Soline, in Deux-Sèvres. Fifteen months after the violent clashes during the banned demonstration against megabasins that left many injured in both camps, the anti-basin collective and the police, the issues surrounding the question of water still arouse strong tensions.

“We are expecting between 6,000 and 8,000 demonstrators, including a thousand extremely violent people, who could be described as radicalised, particularly people who come from abroad.”explained the Minister of the Interior, who therefore expects “acts of great violence” at the next rally against the basins. “We have banned entry into our territory to more than a hundred ultra-left activists who come from European countries around us”he said.

The demonstrators will set up camp from Tuesday in the “Water Village”, a camp set up in Melle, 15 km from Sainte-Soline. Around 120 organisations, associations, unions and collectives are supporting this gathering, including Bassines Non Merci (BNM), the Soulèvements de la Terre and the Confédération paysanne.

The Minister of the Interior recalled that these demonstrations “are prohibited” And “come to challenge legal decisions of all courts”. According to him, “The law has always ruled in favor of farmers. The role of the police officer or gendarme is to enforce these court decisions. There is no reason why farmers, who have justice and the law on their side, should see their property destroyed by those who do not respect the law.”he said.

Gérald Darmanin reaffirmed his “deep disagreement” with political leaders, including the leader of the Ecologists. “When Mrs Tondelier went to the site last year and said ‘it’s my responsibility to be there’, I don’t think it’s the responsibility of women and men in politics to demonstrate with people who also attack the police.”he lamented. According to him, “We should be on the side of order, on the side of the police, in this case on the side of the farmers”.