The mayor of Rezé Agnès Bourgeais published a press release this Tuesday, October 10 in reaction to the threats suffered by elected officials of the municipal council, during a public meeting around a project to welcome Roma families in a district of the city.
“Death threats”, “racist comments”, “insults”, “physical violence”, the mayor of Rezé does not let up after the public meeting which escalated last Friday October 6. That day, the town hall presented its project to create a temporary site for Roma families, in the Classerie district.
Twelve locations must be installed for the site. They should allow for better reception and better care of these families followed by the town hall’s social services.
Each 70 m² plot will be equipped with a mobile home owned by the City. Individualized access to electricity and water will be put in place to empower each family. Elected officials gave the green light to the development project. Estimated cost: 538,800 euros, financed mainly by grants, in particular by the metropolitan fund to combat homelessness up to 85%.
“It was not simply a question of protest or opposition to the project, but of insults, racist and stigmatizing remarks, and intimidation of the supporters present. The climate was one of collective fervor, and of letting off steam towards elected officials”, denounces Agnés Bourgeais.
We were victims of death threats, pursuits at our homes, and physical violence. Two people were pushed violently, and we narrowly avoided a physical altercation.
Agnes BourgeaisMayor of Rezé
For the chosen one, “cThis deeply shocking situation is iunacceptable.” It adds to the too long list of similar situations, where elected officials are attacked, intimidated, harassed, personally.”
Between the lines and in veiled words, the mayor evokes the particularly violent episode of Hervé Neau’s suicide. His predecessor killed himself in February 2022 in the town hall premises after receiving malicious emails. The case is still ongoing.
“Just yesterday, many citizens gathered in French town halls to support the elected officials who were attacked. The resignation of the Mayor of Saint-Brévin, as well as the attack on the home of the Mayor of Hay-les- Roses particularly left their mark.
In response, the government launched a major plan to protect elected officials. But the mayor of Rezé says today “alone to manage.”
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We are abjectly faced with having to choose: to give up carrying out the actions for which we were elected and aimed at people experiencing precariousness, or to endanger our services, the beneficiaries of our actions, and even our families.
Agnes BourgeaisMayor of Rezé
Other integration projects
For several years, the City has opened spaces to allow the reception, accommodation and support of families from Eastern Europe.
“In the Nantes metropolis, 3,000 people live today in slums, alerts Loïc Chusseau, first deputy in charge of the solidarity and inclusion center. “Rezé is once again committed to the development of land which should make it possible to consolidate support for families for sustainable integration into the region and bring them out of great precariousness.” adds the chosen one.
In 2017, two temporary integration sites were opened by the city to accommodate Roma families.
In 2020, six “airlock” housing units were also made available to serve as a transition to traditional housing.
Last summer, the municipality urgently opened a temporary site, near the National Interest Market (Min), to accommodate 35 families evicted from a Nantes shantytown.
Negotiations are underway with the Metropolis so that these populations can settle more permanently on other metropolitan areas. As for the illegal land located next door, “the sub-prefect was asked to expel and find another solution for the occupants”, specifies the city.
Contacted, the mayor of Rezé did not respond to our requests, she will hold a press conference this Thursday, October 12 at 9 a.m.