New episode in the standoff between the Zavatta circus and the elected representatives of the Riviera. More than a month after their thunderous installation west of Nice, the managers of the Zavatta-Muller circus are once again making headlines. Landed “illegally” on land in the neighboring town of Saint-Laurent-du-Var on Monday, they left after 24 hours under high tension to go and settle this Tuesday morning on private land in Antibes, where the town hall has already made it known that “no representation will be authorized”.
“The city is taking a decree today prohibiting” shows “for health and safety reasons”, indicates the municipality in a press release sent to 20 minutes. It specifies that the circus occupies the plot in question, located in the Three mills area, north of the A8 motorway, “at the request of the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes and in agreement with its owner, the Compagnie de Phalsbourg”. The Circassians, on the other hand, intend to welcome the public. And from Saturday. Franck Muller even specifies 20 minutes that the convoy must remain in place for “a fortnight”.
A “scam” in Saint-Laurent
In recent weeks, circus officials, who accuse several elected officials of wanting to “prevent them from working”, had passed through Blausasc, Menton or even Levens, other municipalities in the Alpes-Maritimes, without making a wave. But the situation had become tense again on Monday, with an “illegal” and very noticeable irruption in Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Mayor Joseph Ségura even denounces a “swindle”.
According to the vice-president of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis Anthony Borré, the circus people have “applied for authorization to occupy a plot belonging to [l’office public] Côte d’Azur habitat by pretending to be an agent of the town hall”. The elected official, who criticizes, like Christian Estrosi, the circus for using wild animals in his shows, announced Monday morning that a “complaint for fraudulent maneuvers” was “in the process of being filed”.
Strong exchange and insults
A few hours later, he was copiously insulted. The already tense situation almost degenerated at the other end of Nice, in Saint-André-de-la-Roche, where several trucks from the Zavatta-Muller convoy were still parked late Monday morning. Speaking to one of the Circassians, Anthony Borré attacked: “It’s been three hours since Jumbo [l’hippopotame du cirque, pour lequel la ville de Nice a lancé une pétition] is in the sun in a truck. You have no shame ? “. The answer was cash. “Fag”, “child of a whore”, in particular vociferated his interlocutor, ready to explode. Threatening, he even asked the gendarmes present to “make go” the chosen one, who would have even received a spit during this exchange more than muscular.
Tuesday morning, the pressure subsided a little, Anthony Borré welcomed, video in support, the departure of the circus of Saint-Laurent-du-Var. “Our determination paid off,” he tweeted. The showdown has changed hands. He is now engaged with the town hall of Antibes.