In Tarbes, the economy revolves around the military. All restructuring affects the site head-on. Jean-Louis Toulouze has a big doubt: “I dare to hope that political logic has not cost Tarbes dearly”. Allusion to the political color of the mayor of Tarbes and the local municipality. “While Gérard Trémège is asking Charles Millon for defense relocations for Tarbes, the mayors of Saint-Étienne and Saint-Chamond are pleased to have obtained the relocations of the Development and Armored departments” of GIAT Industries. Unions and committees are activating for a massive popular response. Perhaps 10,000 people parade through Tarbes and take over the Place de Verdun. Never seen. “Thousands to refuse the economic decline of the department, so that the Arsenal may live, so that Tarbes may live. A formidable mobilization! But it is only the beginning…” affirms “La Nouvelle République des Pyrénées” of June 12, 1996 . “Long live GIAT!”, “Long live Tarbes!” on the first page. Thousands of posters posted and distributed to the Bigourdian crowd. On June 21, 1996, the Defense Committee met. Conflicting information is circulating. The private firm Syndex would have estimated the dead loss of GIAT Industries at 10 MF, including 2.20 MF budgeted for the PRE and 5.40 MF in loss provisions by 2001. In total, 7.60 MF. Huge ! To this, we must add 1.50 MF of “ordinary” losses plus 300 million € for “speculation” of the time of the first CEO and losses for late delivery of Leclerc tanks which are not quantified. On Tuesday June 25, in the morning, a marquee was set up near the “Relais de Baloc”, in Vic-en-Bigorre, to inaugurate the end of the work phase of the bypass of the communes of Andrest, Pujo, Camalès and Vic-en-Bigorre. The atmosphere is tense. The officials are there, the speeches are ready, the buffet superbly set by the Cénac couple. To be continued…
