Following threats, Yannick Morez chose to end his mandate. The mayor of Saint-Brévin, a commune in Loire-Atlantique where a project for a reception center for asylum seekers (Cada) is arousing strong opposition, announced that he had sent his resignation to the prefect. His home was targeted on March 22 by a fire. A criminal investigation is underway.
“This Tuesday, May 9, I sent a letter to the prefect of Loire-Atlantique informing him of my wish to resign from my mandate as mayor of Saint-Brévin-les-Pins”, wrote Yannick Morez on Wednesday evening ( DVD), on the Facebook page of the municipality, confirming information from the website of West France.
The elected official deplores the “lack of state support”
“I made this decision for personal reasons, in particular following the arson attack on my home and the lack of state support and after a long reflection with my family”, explains the elected official.
“I have full confidence in my team, a competent team (…) which will continue to act in the service of our city and its inhabitants. After 15 years of presence in the Municipal Council, including 6 years as mayor, I leave feeling confident in the future”, concludes the resigning mayor.
Several demonstrations against the Cada
Saint-Brévin has been the center of tension for several months following a proposed move to the commune of a Cada. Several demonstrations against this proposed move have been organized there, the last of which at the end of April, at the call of the far right, in particular the movement around Reconquest, the party of Eric Zemmour. Among the speakers during the demonstration of April 30 in Saint-Brévin, Bernard Germain, a Reconquest candidate in the last legislative elections in the Côtes-d’Armor.
Bernard Germain was the spokesperson for the committee hostile to a project to welcome people who have obtained refugee status, accompanied by a residence permit granted by the State, in Callac. Faced with pressure from the far right and tensions in the town, this municipality of Côtes-d’Armor had finally given up the project in January, carried by a private foundation, unlike Saint-Brévin where the disputed project is carried by the state.
At the end of March, the mayor of Saint-Brévin recalled that a total of 400 asylum seekers have been received in the town since the opening of the Cada seven years ago. And, he underlined, “there was never the slightest problem”.
Manuel Bompard and Sarah El Haïry indignant
“The National Assembly rises in tribute to Yannick Morez, mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, who has just resigned after the fire at his home and threats from the far right. But the deputies of the National Front remain seated. Shame ”, reported on Twitter the coordinator of rebellious France Manuel Bompard, while the Assembly was considering Wednesday evening the creation of a commission of inquiry into violent small groups.
“Unacceptable. Violence, threats against elected officials must be everyone’s fight. Friendly and Republican support for the Mayor of Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins Yannick Morez”, for her part reacted on the same social network the Secretary of State in charge of youth and elected (Modem) Nantes, Sarah El Haïry.