The mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, a coastal town in France with a population of 15,000, resigned from his post after his house was set on fire in March during a series of far-right protests against a migrant reception center. The French political class expressed outrage at the mayor’s resignation, and President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his solidarity with him and his family, condemning the attacks against him. The city has been experiencing tensions over a project to move a reception center for asylum seekers near a school since 2016. Despite demonstrations organized by far-right groups, the relocation project has been funded by the state and has gone ahead.
Far-right leader and Éric Zemmour’s rival, Marine Le Pen, also condemned the “aggressions and intimidations” against politicians. The French government has begun to crack down on far-right groups that advocate the idea of a “great replacement” of the white French population by African migrants. The left-wing opposition has criticized the government for its inaction in the face of these protests, and the Minister of the Interior has announced a ban on all extreme right-wing demonstrations after a controversial march in Paris.
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who was on a trip to La Réunion, also expressed her indignation and pledged to “better protect the mayors” in a context of “rising extremism.” Lack of state support and intimidation have led to the mayor’s resignation, raising concerns among the political class about the impact of extremism on local and national politics.
Friday, April 19, 2024