“Gérald Darmanin’s Hidden Visit to Gruson: The Controversy and Confusion”

Despite the official announcement from the prefecture of the Hauts-de-France region stating that Gérald Darmanin would not be in Gruson (Nord) on Saturday May 6, the Minister of the Interior was indeed on the move in the town. But why such a mess?

If the arrival of the Minister of the Interior was anticipated for the inauguration of the new town hall of Gruson, it was quickly denied by the prefecture of the Hauts-de-France region. The invitation launched to the inhabitants of the town, via a publication on the Facebook page of Gruson, clearly evoked the presence, among other political and local representatives, of Gérald Darmanin.

The inauguration being fixed for Saturday, May 6, the site of the protest movement Attac, had announced the previous Thursday a “casserolade” to welcome the Minister of the Interior. According to information from The voice of the Norththis new mobilization would have panicked the Minister’s advisers.

They would have quickly contacted journalists in order to pass on new information: Gérald Darmanin will not be present in Gruson during the inauguration of the new town hall.

The mayor of Gruson warned 20 minutes before the inauguration

For its part, the prefecture of the Hauts-de-France region played the game on Twitter. “Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior and Overseas, will not be going to Gruson this Saturday, May 6, 2023. Note: there was never any question of him coming”, can we still read on the account of the prefecture.

Clarification: there was never any question of him coming.

– Prefecture of the Hauts-de-France and North region (@prefet59) May 5, 2023

Warned on the morning of Thursday May 4 that the minister would not come, Olivier Turpin, mayor of Gruson had to review the protocol and the course of the inauguration… To change it again on Saturday morning, when Gérald Darmanin finally announced his presence, barely 20 minutes before the start of the inauguration.

Inauguration of the New Town Center of Gruson in our beautiful @MetropoleLille with the Mayor, @DamienCastelain @DanyWattebled et @lecocqcharlotte pic.twitter.com/YpGQVE9S2N

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) May 6, 2023

The Minister of the Interior was therefore indeed present in front of the town hall of Gruson on Saturday May 6, where he avoided a new concert of pans. However, the demonstrators had welcomed him shortly before in front of the town hall of Tourcoing. With pans, this time.