The municipalities must mobilize for the Afghan refugees. This is, in essence, the meaning of the forum published by the National Association of Communist and Republican Elected Officials, bringing together 650 mayors throughout France, which spoke out in favor of the unconditional welcome of Afghan refugees.
“Today, like yesterday, we are ready to welcome those fleeing the horrors of war”, write the signatories, forty communist mayors, in particular of Gennevilliers (Patrice Leclerc), of Grigny (Philippe Rio), of Vénissieux (Michèle Picard), of Brionne (Valéry Beuriot), of Allonnes (Gilles Leproust).
In this call, they also challenge Emmanuel Macron, asking him to be up to the challenges in terms of asylum: “France like Europe must be at the rendezvous of history. “
Local elected officials stand out from the president’s positions
The elected communists are not the only ones to commit themselves in favor of the reception. Actions have multiplied in recent days at the local level, far from the positions of President Emmanuel Macron, who, with his eyes riveted on the next presidential election, considers that France must “Protect against significant irregular migratory flows” from Afghanistan.
The day after his televised address on August 17, several environmental officials, including Éric Piolle in Grenoble or Grégory Doucet in Lyon, wished to distinguish themselves from the words of the Head of State, saying they were ready to help exiles. On Twitter, the EELV mayor of Tours, Emmanuel Denis, indicated that “The city of #Tours has already said it is ready to accommodate 25 to 30 refugees. Tours Habitat and Ligeris (social landlords) have been seized and are currently listing the vacant apartments that could be allocated to them ”.
The city of #Tours has already said it is ready to take in 25 to 30 refugees. Tours Habitat and Ligeris have been seized and are currently listing the vacant apartments that could be allocated to them. #Afghanistan CC @CMunsch_Masset and Marie Quinton https://t.co/jyQ2dYnTyt
– Emmanuel Denis (@ EmmanuelDenis37) August 19, 2021
Very quickly, elected socialists joined the movement, such as Martine Aubry (Lille), Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol (Rouen), Olivier Bianchi (Clermont-Ferrand) or even Mathieu Klein (Nancy). In Marseille, the PS mayor, Benoît Payan, recalled that the history of the Marseille city “Merges with that of the persecuted, the hunted, the starving, who came here to survive and then live”. The city councilor specifies that these people “Will always have a place in our city”. A solidarity that contrasts with the radical speeches of Emmanuel Macron on the issue of exiles.
The government must not shirk its responsibilities for housing, integration, education, health and the regularization of refugees, as is the case today for migrants. Patrice Leclerc PCF Mayor of Gennevilliers
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Without waiting for the green light from the state, yet at the forefront of asylum rights, city officials are already anticipating the arrival of future Afghan exiles. In Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin), the ecological municipality has declared itself ready to create new emergency accommodation, identifies housing likely to be allocated to families, supports the solidarity mobilizations soon to emerge, to l citizens’ initiative. “It is our duty to welcome them in dignified conditions”, insists Jeanne Barseghian, EELV city councilor, while specifying that she does not want to ” to select “ the type of refugees. “France must play its role as a land of asylum towards the entire Afghan population”, also believes the one who is also co-president, with the MEP Damien Carême, of the National Association of welcoming cities and territories.
In Strasbourg as in Gennevilliers, the municipal services are on the bridge. “We are ready to increase our reception capacities and to mobilize local associations”, specifies Patrice Leclerc, the Communist mayor of this city of Hauts-de-Seine, fearing, however, a demobilization of state services. “The government must not shirk its responsibilities regarding housing, integration, education, health and the regularization of refugees, as is the case today for migrants”, points to the communist councilor. In the popular town of Allonnes (Sarthe), the elected PCF Gilles Leproust also promises that the town he has led for years will remain “Faithful to its values of humanity, solidarity and openness”.
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