This Sunday, October 6, the opposition municipal councilor Thierry Antoine (EELV) pasted on the poster spaces of Béziers, with sympathizers, “La Pelle”, a wall newspaper which parodies that of the City with the desire to put to debate certain subjects and to assert their right of expression.
Despite the humidity and the gray atmosphere, this Sunday, October 6 in the morning, on Avenue Clemenceau in Béziers, the smiles are there. The smiles of those who have just pulled off a coup… Thierry Antoine, an elected environmentalist from the opposition, shows the first poster plastered on one of the signs in the town of Riquet. The glue is still fresh. The words warp under its effect. But we can very well read “La Pelle”, the title of this wall newspaper which is reminiscent of the one launched by the municipality at the beginning of September since it was “L’Appel”.
“We only hear the majority”
During the last municipal council, Thierry Antoine denounced the lack of space for expression for opposition municipal elected officials and Mayor Robert Ménard suggested that he take over the billboards… So that’s done! “We had thought about it beforecorrects the elected environmentalist. This is an answer to the problem. 18 months before the municipal elections, we only hear the majority. We have the right to disagree with us but we need a debate. Robert Ménard cannot monopolize communication and also choose the subjects to talk about“.
Incinerator, detention center
Thus, the Ecologists, since it is the party which finances the fifty printed posters, chose to mention on its wall newspaper the CRA project (Administrative Retention Center) near the Gasquinoy penitentiary center, or even that of an incinerator (a CSR “solid recovered fuel” boiler room whose design and construction are under study).
The wall newspaper, “Basically, it is the solution found by those who no longer had any other means of expressing themselves” (it was used in China in particular by students in the 60s during the Cultural Revolution, Editor’s note). “We’re in parody, it’s a touch of humor. But the idea is to spark debate. The incinerator, the CRA go under the radar, that’s not normal”. “It’s just common sense to give the opposition a voice”declares Thierry Antoine, to use an expression dear to the mayor of Béziers.
“In Béziers, to know the truth, you have to dig”
A number 2 of La Pelle? “If necessary, we will”replies the opposition elected official who pleads for collective construction of projects and recalls “l’expertise” environmentalists on certain subjects. Besides, why La Pelle? “Because in Béziers, to know the truth, you have to dig” is indicated on the poster.
Does this offensive action by the Béziers ecologist bode well for his candidacy in the municipal elections? “I will be present in the most useful way to the people of Biterrois”he said, without further details.
