The first deputy secretary of the Socialist Party called for "a big march, a big rally" on Wednesday, May 24. Questioned by BFMTV to react to the resignation of Yannick Morez, the socialist mayor of Nantes Johanna Rolland invited to a rally of her support for the mayor of Saint-Brévin (Loire-Atlantique). The latter announced Wednesday night that he was ending his mandate, provoking a torrent of reactions.

Since he supported a project for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in his commune, the elected official has been subjected to pressure and violence. On March 22, an arson attack hit the elected official's home and cars. "When what happened in Saint-Brévin, it is the whole Republic that retreats," she said, inviting "all elected officials attached to the values of the Republic, activists, sympathizers, all humanists who refuse to give in to the intimidation of the National Rally", to be "numerous" that day.


"For them, migrants are potential criminals."

Saint-Brévin-les-Pins has been welcoming asylum seekers for 6 years, without any problem.

💥 However, the mayor, Yannick Morez, and other elected officials receive threats to stop this project#EnvoyéSpécial @EliseLucet pic.twitter.com/ax4bg3puun

— Special Envoy (@EnvoyeSpecial) April 6, 2023

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With the first secretary of the PS Olivier Faure and the first deputy vice-president of the Association of Mayors of France André Laignel, Johanna Rolland believes that the resignation of the mayor "is an alarm for all republicans". "No one should accept that a mayor who fulfills his duty of fraternity by hosting a place of accommodation for asylum seekers, can be intimidated and suffer the fire of his own house," they say, regretting that the State, "after being alerted, did not react by leaving this elected alone to face the threat of the extreme right."

"We will not let it pass"

Deploring that "the trivialization of the parliamentary far right has freed throughout the territory, the speech and now the action of individuals or groups who feel legitimate to spread the venom of racism", they affirm: "we will not let it pass". Thursday, many residents of the seaside town of Loire-Atlantique said they "understand" the reaction of their mayor. "The mayor was fed up, I understand that. This story went way too far," said one resident.

The mayor had denounced the lack of state support following these intimidation attempts. Thursday, the prefect of Loire-Atlantique had reacted, estimating "the support of the State" had been "permanent".

  • Nantes
  • Loire-Atlantique
  • Pays de la Loire
  • Johanna Rolland
  • Saint-Nazaire
  • Resignation
  • Mayor
  • Asylum seekers
  • Migrants
  • Far right
  • Arson
  • Society
  • Socialist Party (PS)
  • Politics