The executive will not only have its eyes on the terrorist threat this weekend. A high-risk mobilization is expected in Saïx (Tarn), Saturday and Sunday, against the Toulouse-Castres motorway project (A69). The Haute-Garonne prefecture anticipates the presence of 6,000 to 8,000 people, mainly environmental activists, for this “Ramdam sur le Macadam” operation. Around “200 to 300 radicals” are expected among them, indicates a security source. No less than 1,600 police officers and gendarmes will therefore be mobilized to supervise the gathering, “supported by helicopters and drones”. Checks and arrests began on Friday after the discovery of “weapons by destination” on demonstrators who began to go there.
Collectives like the Uprisings of the Earth – whose dissolution requested by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin was suspended by the Council of State -, Extinction Rebellion and Attac are calling to hinder the construction of the 53 kilometers of the A69. They will certainly be able to meet in Saïx, but the prefect has banned “demonstrations and protest gatherings” in 15 surrounding communities, along the route of the construction site, between Friday noon and Monday morning. “Violent acts could be perpetrated”, justifies the representative of the State, who relies on a declaration of the Uprisings of the Earth calling for “a weekend of resistance, action and determined struggles against highway”. It comes after the Minister for Transport, Clément Beaune, raised his voice on Monday, affirming that “the State is determined to see this project through, which was decided democratically and systematically confirmed by the judge”. Before this press release, the local elected officials concerned were brought together and reiterated their support for the project. “Force will remain within the law and the rule of law,” insisted Clément Beaune, thus rejecting the proposal for a local referendum carried by “La Voie est libre”, a collective hostile to the A69.
Opposition to road infrastructure crystallized after environmental activist Thomas Brail sat for ten days at the top of a tree in Paris last September, opposite the Ministry of Ecological Transition. On hunger strike then thirst strike, he was dislodged by the firefighters after Clément Beaune tried, in vain, to mediate with him. The felling of trees along the highway route was even briefly suspended. The minister, who embodies the left wing of the executive, finally decided to opt for firmness. On the front line on this issue, he is directly targeted by environmentalists. As for the region’s elected officials, they are walking on eggshells. Starting with Carole Delga, the PS president of the Occitanie region, also in the sights of opponents.
The executive is now concerned about the establishment of a new “zone to defend” (ZAD) in the region, a term used by environmentalists opposed to projects as diverse as the Sainte-Soline water basins (Deux -Sèvres) or even a Center Parcs project (cancelled in 2020) in Isère.
The process is obviously reminiscent of the spectacular battle around Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport, near Nantes. Faced with violent “zadists”, Édouard Philippe decided to put an end to the project in 2018, despite the result of a local referendum which approved it. “If every time a new infrastructure is mentioned the question of land artificialization arises, then we will no longer be able to do anything. We must return to the rule of law. We cannot put on the same level the words of a democratically elected mayor and an activist, however sincere he may be, in his struggles,” underlines Clément Beaune’s entourage. Without using the term “ecoterrorism”, put forward almost a year ago by Gérald Darmanin, to describe radical environmental movements. The expression had sparked debate right up to the top of the state. “I don’t know if that’s the word I would use,” retorted the Prime Minister to Le Figaro last June. More soberly, the Minister of the Interior recently installed in Beauvau “an anti-ZAD cell, with specialized jurists” to prevent the fixing of these points of protest. Getting started with the A69 construction site promises to be difficult.
