They were smiling when they left the Paris headquarters of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF). A delegation of fairground and circus performers was received this Tuesday afternoon by the president of the AMF, François Baroin. In a press release, the mayor of Troyes undertakes to "make mayors aware of the social and economic issue of the resumption of activity of fairground and circus workers". The AMF invites mayors and prefects to "study the resumption" of these activities.
Since mid-March, some 760 fairgrounds have been cut across France. As for the 180 to 200 itinerant circuses, they remained low. "We now want to go further, so that public space is granted to us, because many mayors refuse our installation when we have animals, while we are transparent and concerned about the well-being of our animals", laments Solovich Dumas, spokesperson for the Association for the Defense of Family Circuses, also received.
The fairgrounds, through the French Fairground Federation, want mayors to stop "stifling" their profession. “They have the management of the public domain, but not the right to kill a profession, claims Nicolas Lemay, president of this federation. Too many cities have let the fairgrounds die. In Brittany, in 20 years, more than 400 festivals have disappeared. "
"At least once a year a fun fair and a circus in his town"
Supported by politicians like Nadine Morano, regional councilor (LR) from Lorraine or the senator (LR) from Yvelines Alain Gournac, the fairgrounds had written to the AMF several times since March. "We no longer want to be victims of the moods of mayors, we needed this official support from the AMF," says Nicolas Lemay. A mayor should host a funfair and a circus in his commune at least once a year. "
For that of Fourmies, in the North, there was no question of canceling its 171st ducasse, from July 10 to 22, which brings together 120 trades. “We worked on a health protocol with barriers and hydroalcoholic gel, and eliminated the parades and the two fireworks to avoid large gatherings, underlines the mayor, Mickaël Hiraux. But this great ducasse is a long-awaited celebration in Fourmies. One cannot deprive the inhabitants, especially after confinement. We must also think about the economics of this profession. "
The elected representative recalls that his town has 30% unemployed and 35% of adults do not have a driving license. So the fun fair, here as in many other municipalities, is the holiday atmosphere that many will not breathe this summer.