This is one of the most striking images of the violence and damage which took place on Saturday October 17 in several cities across the country, on the sidelines of demonstrations against the high cost of living and processions of high school students: the town hall of Limoges (Haute-Vienne) partly destroyed by a fire. The 19th century building is "very heavily damaged" and "largely lost", estimated the prefect of Haute-Vienne and the mayor of the town in the evening.
The latter, Guillaume Guérin, elected LR, reacted on Saturday evening by evoking an action that was “unacceptable, shameful, unspeakable, incomprehensible”. He answered questions from Bénédicte Dupont, journalist at ICI Limousin.
"Tonight I feel bad for my country. It's hard for me, I think it's hard for the Limougeauds and the Limougeauds, it's hard for the elected officials who believe in the values of the Republic and there are many of them. It's not stupidity, it's hatred. It's hatred of the French flag, it's perhaps what will remain of the town hall: a flag, which the firefighters gave me kindly restored, saved from the flames.
“It’s hatred of institutions, it’s hatred of high school principals, it’s hatred of cops, it’s hatred of elected officials, it’s hatred of everything that embodies authority.”
Guillaume Guérin, mayor of Limoges at ICI Limousin
These were not petty criminals who did this, they were very methodical, very organized people. There are no words to condemn what happened, it is so despicable. But you know, it's not a coincidence. Certain speeches incite insurrection, urban guerrilla warfare. I heard elected officials from La France Insoumise say, not long ago, that violence could be legitimate. It gives this. Legitimate violence is reserved for law enforcement. This evening, we are in a situation of chaos in the country. It's a reality.
“I am sad for my country”
They destroyed a historic, magnificent building that Limougeauds love, but they did not destroy the public service, they did not destroy the Republic. We will maintain the quality of service, we will maintain the service offer for Limougeauds, we will organize ourselves with the other local authorities, we will ensure that we are operational as soon as possible with friendly town halls, with all town halls and friends in the territory of the agglomeration so that there is no discontinuity in the service provided. We will be present to meet the needs of our populations because it is the responsibility of elected officials.
It's a monument that's burning, but it's not the Republic. The Republic will hold. I have no doubt that once light is shed on the circumstances of this violent attack, criminal proceedings will follow, given the discussions I was able to have with the prosecution this evening. I expect the strongest possible requisitions from the prosecution once the perpetrators have been arrested, because one thing is certain, and that is that the authors will be arrested.
“You didn’t destroy all the cameras in town. There are places where you went under. You will be arrested and you will be sentenced.”
Guillaume Guérin to the rioters who burned down the town hall
Everywhere on social networks, there have been calls for hatred, violence, massive mobilization in recent days, everywhere I will file a complaint and look for what is hidden behind anonymous accounts. Impunity does not exist and neither does anonymity behind a computer screen. We owe it to the Limougeauds, we owe it to the taxpayers so I expect, after the arrests which will perhaps take place in a few weeks, a few months, the strongest possible sanctions from the legal world."
A “march of elected officials” is organized on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Place de la République in Limoges.
