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For several days, the majority of left and far left organizations in Lyon have been asking for a ban on the visit of Éric Zemmour to Villeurbanne on Saturday.
This Wednesday, Cédric Van Styvendael, the mayor of the town, announced that he had issued an order prohibiting the militant meeting organized by the president of Reconquest in this socialist stronghold, for the release of his new book.
After having initially given his agreement, the city councilor explains that he made the decision to cancel the event because of "
the existence of a risk of excesses and violence around the Cultural Center and associative life of Villeurbanne"
where 600 people were expected on site according to the organizers.
“
Everything opposes me to the ideas and values defended by Éric Zemmour.
Beyond the necessary political fight, I remain firmly attached to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
(…) The Reconquest Party!
was able to reserve a municipal hall as all political parties can do.
You don't fight the extreme right by preventing its ideas from being expressed.
We fight them with the weapons of democracy
.
And to add: “
I note that this event is not able to take place without risking creating disturbances to public order endangering the safety of people.
Under these conditions, it would be irresponsible to maintain this demonstration.
On Sunday, Raphaël Arnault, co-founder of the far-left movement La Jeune Garde, assured on Twitter "
that Éric Zemmour will not set foot in Villeurbanne
".
A studied appeal
Contacted, the departmental organization of Reconquest in the Rhône says it is "
skeptical about the viability of the procedure
".
"
What we see is that the town hall, which had accepted our reception in the cultural center of Villeurbanne, gave in to pressure from the ultra left when it was a friendly meeting organized within the framework of Éric Zemmour's tour for the release of his book
," laments Mickaël Magnin, communication manager for Reconquête Rhône.
According to our information, the party has already decided to take legal action to challenge this decree.
