“It is not acceptable that the municipal newspaper should even implicitly peddle a distorted vision of History,” denounces an opposition elected official. A photo of Marshal Pétain was published in the newspaper of the Montauban town hall, to evoke the anniversary of the liberation of the city.
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The town hall of Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne) has caused controversy by using, in its monthly edition of the municipal newspaper, a photo of Marshal Pétain to announce the commemorations of the Liberation on August 19, reports France Bleu Occitanie on Sunday July 21.
Under the title “80th anniversary of the liberation of Montauban”, the photo shows Marshal Pétain in Montauban in November 1940. “The first reaction is one of incomprehension”denounces the president of the socialist federation of the department and elected opposition member of the municipality, Arnaud Hilion.
“It is not acceptable that the municipal newspaper even implicitly peddles a distorted vision of History. We demand an apology for this intolerable publication.”continues Olivier Fournet, federal secretary of the PS for human rights. The opposition is demanding at least an apology in the next city newspaper, by August 19, the date of the commemoration.
When contacted by France Bleu Occitanie, the town hall did not wish to give an interview to explain its version of events. On the other hand, the town’s mayor, Brigitte Barèges, elected as a member of parliament under the banner of the Republicans allied with the National Rally, claims to be a Gaullist, and does not apologize or acknowledge any error. “I am proud to claim to be descended from General de Gaulle, who called on France to resist Pétain on June 18, 1940.”she wrote.
