Will Zemmour come even if he “is not welcome”? The candidate of “Reconquest! In the presidential election of 2022, Eric Zemmour, must hold a campaign rally in Lille on Saturday. The mayor of the city, Martine Aubry (PS) made it clear to him that he was “not welcome”. Nevertheless, the elected official has no legal weapon to prevent the former columnist from putting down his bags for an evening in this room in which the city is nevertheless the majority shareholder.
When something does not please her, the mayor of Lille will not hesitate to say it loud and clear. This is what she did by proclaiming her opposition to the arrival of Eric Zemmour in Lille on Saturday. Besides the rant, if she had been able to legally prevent the candidate from renting Lille Grand Palais, she would have done so. Because the mixed economy company (SEM) which manages the place is 61% owned by the municipality.
The argument of “disturbing public order”
“In other times, we had looked at what it was possible to do legally so that far-right people could not use this room”, explains a source close to the file to 20 minutes. But the city had quickly given up. “Such a decision could have been akin to a refusal to sell and be challenged in court,” recognizes our source. This is what happened in Strasbourg, in 2015, when the company that manages the Zénith had canceled the visit of Dieudonné. The comedian had attacked in summary and the court had given him reason
despite the defense of the Zenith manager who had pleaded an “environment that undermines public order”.
What will happen, precisely, to public order on Saturday? On social networks, supporters of Eric Zemmour and his detractors pass the buck. The first ensuring that Martine Aubry’s call to unite against racism will bring many antifa to Lille. The second, sure that hordes of identities and members of disbanded far-right groups will tumble down to do battle.
Nevertheless, a decision to anticipate possible disturbances to public order is up to the prefect. The representative of the State will take the measures he deems necessary based on the information that will be sent to him by the Departmental Territorial Intelligence Service (SDRT, ex RG). Order of cancellation or consequent police device, the ball is on the side of the State, not of the town hall.