Culture – Leisure | Association to help victims: tensions and renewal

“Funny atmosphere. The words sum up the general assembly of Atav which was held on Friday evening. They are written on the Facebook profile of Brigitte Vaïsse, regional councilor, opposition municipal councilor in Thionville, a woman involved in community life. His sentiment is widely shared. The Thionville Association for Victims of Criminal Offenses is going through a new phase of turbulence.

The president resigns. The board of directors has just been renewed three quarters. Historical members are excluded. This is the case of the partner association Athens, which sat on the board since its creation thirty years ago. This result “surprises” internally.

The general assembly of Atav and the election of the board of directors were initially to be held at the end of May by videoconference. Everything was finally postponed at the beginning of September to allow some clarification. Because just before the vote, Atav exploded the number of its members. Membership increased from 20 to nearly 140. The situation has also challenged even beyond the circle concerned. “In 50 years of associative life, I have never seen that”, comments the president of Athens, Robert Malgras. Like others, he denounces a suspicious context.

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” In the rules “

Friday, September 4, 96 members expressed themselves by secret ballot as had been required. But all were far from being present. Two people voted for the election of the new board of directors with thirteen and eleven proxies in hand, respectively.

The approach has to say the least surprised. “But the statutes of the association allow it”, defends the former president, Me Olivier Rech. He welcomes the renewal of the management team. “The new members elected to the board come from diverse backgrounds, share the same values. I have no other interests than that of the victims, ”he guarantees. The former president sweeps away the accusations, insists moreover on the good record of the association without denying, however, “a special atmosphere”. “There are tensions but everything went according to the rules. It is democracy that is expressed. “

“The USSR also claimed to be a democrat,” replied the president of Athens. “The method poses an ethical question […] My only concern is that this association remains credible in the eyes of funders and partners to continue to pursue its excellent work and to play its essential role, ”continues Robert Malgras. Indeed, that is what is at stake.

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