“20 years, it’s little and it’s a lot”, confides Pierre Creuzet, a former elected opposition member, survivor of the tragic night called “Nanterre massacre” by the media. On the night of March 26 to 27, 2002, in the middle of the presidential campaign, a 33-year-old man attended the municipal council of Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine), impassively, with two automatic pistols hidden in his jacket. At the end of the session, Richard Durn gets up and methodically empties three large caliber magazines. It’s 1 o’clock in the morning. Eight elected officials die and 19 are injured. “Act of murderous madness”, for the president candidate for his re-election, Jacques Chirac, “furious madness”, for his Prime Minister and adversary Lionel Jospin… This is one of the most serious acts ever committed against elected officials in France.
Pierre Creuzet was hit by three bullets that evening and remains very marked by this shooting: “We are traumatized for life. Obviously, it is much calmer than before but there is always this fear. When I hear noise, I jump when others do not jump”. He no longer exercises a political mandate but he continued his activity as elected official of the city for 12 years after the massacre. From now on, Pierre Creuzet works for an association which aims to revitalize the Nanterre city center and above all to strengthen the links between the inhabitants.
A commemoration ceremony is organized at 4 p.m. on Sunday March 27, on the Town Hall Square. Pierre Creuzet is one of the organizers. This process brings back painful memories. “There is always this feeling of waste”, he confides.
“We are elected representatives of the Republic, we said to ourselves that nothing could happen to us, especially on the municipal council. And I say to myself, all this for what?
Pierre Creuzet, former electedat franceinfo
Despite the pain, it is essential for him to allow this contemplation. Patrick Jarry, the current mayor of the city shares this feeling. He was also present in the council chamber. “Obviously, I am in a special position since I am the mayor of this city. These are necessarily difficult times but I am proud that the city is mobilizing”.
The forecourt of the Town Hall will be renamed place of March 27, 2002 to not forget. The city councilor will unveil the plaque during the ceremony. “We must know that an event happened here that shook Nanterre”. But Patrick Jarry believes that continuing his political action at the local level is the best tribute he can pay to his fallen friends.“I think our friends who passed away that night would have wanted us to carry that word.”
Twenty later, Nanterre remains marked by the slaughter which decimated its municipal council – report by Pauline Josse.
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