The mayor of the city, Cédric Van Styvendael, had issued an order on Wednesday, prohibiting the arrival of Éric Zemmour in his commune.
The decision was expected. This Friday, the administrative court of Lyon decided to maintain Éric Zemmour’s visit to Villeurbanne scheduled for Saturday. He must hold a signing session there as part of the release of his latest book and participate in a meeting of his party.
On Wednesday, the mayor of Villeurbanne, Cédric Van Styvendael, had issued an order prohibiting the coming of the candidate for the presidential election of 2022 at the Cultural and Associative Life Center (CCVA) of the town, faced with the risk of excesses and violence.
“It does not follow from the instruction that the Reconquest association would not have taken the necessary measures for the smooth running of the event”, can we read in the report of the administrative court.
Cédric Van Styvendael “takes note”
“The deputy departmental delegate of the Fédération Reconquête du Rhône in charge of setting up the service securing the meeting in question spoke with the Territorial Intelligence of the city of Lyon on March 22, 2023 and assured him that this service , made up of around thirty people, will guarantee the protection of the participants and the smooth running of the event”, recalls the judge.
The latter adds that, given the capacity of the room (550 people) which will host the signing session, “the participants should not be required to stay on the public road but would be installed within the building, under surveillance”.
In a press release, Cédric Van Styvendael affirms that he “takes note of the decision of the administrative judge”.
“As soon as they decide to maintain their event, I call on the organizers to take responsibility,” continues the elected socialist. and other users of the CCVA, I have asked the prefectural services for police to be deployed around the hall and in Villeurbanne. We will provide them with our support within the limits of our powers.”
600 people expected
“The risk analysis that I do is that Éric Zemmour comes with comments that I have been fighting against for years. These comments generate aggression and tension”, explained Cédric Van Styvendael at the microphone of BFM Lyon, Wednesday, anticipating the presence of 600 people at the signing session.
But the former journalist had still made the decision to come despite the decree, he said on Twitter.
The arrival of Éric Zemmour had, as soon as it was announced, aroused controversy. Several left-wing elected officials in the region had denounced an “attempt to buzz” and a desire to “provoke the left in its territory”.
