resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brévin, targeted by an arson attack

“Personal reasons” and “lack of state support”: a little over a month after the arson attack which targeted his home, the mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique) , Yannick Morez, thus justified his resignation, announced Wednesday, May 10 on the Facebook page of the municipality.

“This Tuesday, May 9, I sent a letter to the prefect of Loire-Atlantique informing him of my wish to resign from my mandate as mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins”, he wrote.

A project for a reception center for asylum seekers (CADA) has aroused strong opposition in this town which has been the scene of far-right demonstrations in recent months, the last of which at the end of April.

“I made this decision for personal reasons, in particular following the arson attack on my home and the lack of support from the State and after a long reflection with my family”, explains Yannick Morez. The mayor’s home was targeted on March 22 by the start of a fire. The fire was lit during the night while he and his family slept. A criminal investigation is underway.

A Reconquest candidate! at the maneuver

“I have full confidence in my team, a competent team (…) which will continue to act in the service of our city and its inhabitants. After fifteen years of presence in the municipal council, including six years as mayor, I leave feeling confident in the future, ”concludes the resigning mayor.

Among the opponents of the center for asylum seekers, Bernard Germain, a candidate for Reconquest! – the party of Eric Zemmour -, in the last legislative elections of June 2022 in the Côtes-d’Armor. Mr. Germain was the spokesman for the committee hostile to a project to welcome refugees, who were to settle in a town in this department, Callac.

Faced with pressure from the far right and tensions in the town, the municipality of Callac had finally given up the project in January, developed by a private foundation, unlike Saint-Brevin where the disputed project is carried by the State.

Asked at the end of March, the mayor of Saint-Brevin recalled that a total of 400 asylum seekers have been received in the town since the opening of the CADA seven years ago. And, he underlined, “there was never the slightest problem”.

Tribute to the National Assembly

The (socialist) mayor of Saint-Nazaire, David Samzun, a neighboring town of Saint-Brevin, gave him his support: “For having served the Republic, and the people in distress, he was forced to resign to protect his family. Would the function of elected official have become dangerous to the point of risking his life and that of our loved ones? I can’t resolve it. »

“Unacceptable. Violence, threats against elected officials must be everyone’s fight. Friendly and Republican support for the mayor of Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins Yannick Morez ”, for her part reacted on Twitter the Secretary of State in charge of youth and elected (MoDem) Nantes, Sarah El Haïry.

“The National Assembly rises in tribute to Yannick Morez, mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, who has just resigned after the fire at his home and threats from the far right. But the deputies of the National Front remain seated. Shame ”, reported, for his part, on Twitter the coordinator of La France insoumise, Manuel Bompard, while the National Assembly was considering, Wednesday evening, the creation of a commission of inquiry into violent small groups.

The mayor of Saint-Brevin has also announced his desire to leave the town and his activity as a general practitioner in June.