For his part, Gérald Darmanin denounces “the provocations of certain elected officials” and affirms that “all deputies and senators are not above the laws of the Republic”.
Elisabeth Borne denounced Wednesday, November 2 before the Senate “unacceptable and deeply shocking scenesSaturday during the demonstration near a construction site of a disputed agricultural reservoir in Sainte-Soline in Deux-Sèvres.
A prohibited demonstration, but having brought together several thousand people, near this site of mega-basins gave rise to violent clashes between radical militants and the police. 61 gendarmes were injured, 22 of them seriously, according to the Ministry of the Interior. “While the majority of the demonstrators were peaceful, several hundred violent individuals attacked the gendarmes who were protecting the site. (…) These are unacceptable and deeply shocking scenes“said the Prime Minister during questions to the government.
“Pay homage to our law enforcement”
“Justice is seized and I can assure you, there will be no impunity for these perpetrators of violence“, also declared Ms. Borne, who was questioned by the president of the group Les Indépendants-République et Territoires, Claude Malhuret.
Before the Senate, the head of government wanted “first and foremost pay tribute to our law enforcement. Every day, police and gendarmes protect us, they preserve the republican order. No violence against them is acceptable and the government will always be on their side“. This project “has been the subject of long and in-depth consultations“. “Thanks to these discussions, the project was greatly modified, I can testify to this as the former prefect of the Poitou-Charentes region.“, developed Ms. Borne.
SEE ALSO – Sainte-Soline: return of calm around thebasin“, but opponents give the state 15 days to position itself
“It’s a good project”
“This project is part of the territorial project for water management which was approved in 2019 almost unanimously by the communities of course, but also by environmental protection associations.“. He “will make it possible to reduce withdrawals from natural environments, it is a responsible project that links the creation of reserves to environmental commitments made by farmers“, she added.
He is “also necessary to help these farmers cope with drought and better regulate water use. So, I say, it’s a good project“, who has “could be appealed by opponents” who have “lost in court“, underlined the Prime Minister.
After these incidents, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin spoke of a “ecoterrorismfrom violent protesters. A term that Ms. Borne did not use in the Senate, nor, “knowingly“, government spokesman Olivier Véran on Wednesday at the end of the Council of Ministers.
“To be respected, you have to be respectable”
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also denounced, Wednesday, November 2 in the National Assembly, “the provocations of some elected officials” present last Saturday in Sainte-Soline (Deux-Sèvres) at the prohibited demonstration of opponents of basins, these water reservoirs intended for the irrigation of agricultural land.
Speaking during his hearing by the Law Commission of the National Assembly, the Minister of the Interior, who accused some violent demonstrators last weekend of practicing “ecoterrorism“, argued this time that a “deputy, this is not a living immunity, he must respect all the rules of the Republic“. Addressing LFI deputy Ugo Bernalicis, Gérald Darmanin added: “To be respected, you have to be respectable and respect all the rules of the Republic“. On Saturday, LFI and EELV deputies present in Sainte-Soline complained of having been abused by the police.
“All deputies and senators are not above the laws of the Republic and the deputies of the Nupes are not above the laws of all deputiesdid he declare. You were obviously on the side of those who attacked the gendarmes with 15 centimeter stones“, military policemen “who had crushed jaws“, accused the minister. During this demonstration, 61 gendarmes were injured, 22 of them seriously, according to the Ministry of the Interior.