It was the project to move the reception center for asylum seekers that provoked a wave of protests and threats from several far-right movements in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. The former mayor resigned at the end of March after seeing his home hit by an arson attack.
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Elected Friday new mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique), after the resignation of Yannick Morez targeted by threats, Dorothée Pacaud assured Monday June 12 on France Inter that he “there is no reason to give in” on the project to move the reception center for asylum seekers (Cada). This project, “state-supported”had provoked strong reactions from far-right movements: the former mayor had received threats, his home had been the target of an arson attack on March 22, forcing him to resign.
Dorothée Pacaud recalls that the Cada of her municipality “exists since 2016”and that since “the reception is going extremely well, there have been no incidents”. She said to herself “determined” to continue this displacement project, “because the right to asylum corresponds to a constitutional right and we want to defend it”, justifies the new aedile. She insists on holding many meetings around this project, but “a small group of opponents no longer wants to discuss and wants the withdrawal of the project or nothing”.
>> Resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brevin: return to the “organized and violent strategy of the far right” vis-à-vis elected officials
Tensions therefore remain high within Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. Friday, June 9, the election of Dorothée Pacaud during the City Council was disrupted by far-right activists. The 45 year old teacher “expected” at the arrival of these activists: “Those who came to disturb outside [de la salle, en criant “Hier Annecy, demain Saint-Brevin”] are not inhabitants of the city, they are militants of the ultra-right who come from Tours and Angers”, underlines the mayor. She regrets that the local group that opposes the project has “affiliated with far-right parties and groups” when they have “since they would not get the work stoppage”.
“From there, dialogue is no longer possible.”
Dorothee Pacaudon France Inter
Despite these tensions, Dorothée Pacaud affirms that she does not regret her choice to wear the tricolor scarf, she maintains that there is no “never had any reluctance or concern on the part of [son] husband and [ses] children”. Like its predecessor, it “has received a lot of support letters for several days”of the “offensive letters, but no threats”.
Dorothée Pacaud also adds that she was contacted the evening of her election by the prefect: “I do not have close police protection, but the gendarmerie is present and I know that there is vigilance around my home”assures the mayor who hopes for an easing of tensions.