Near Toulouse, a city refuses the opening of a center for rejected asylum seekers
Is it the return to the deliberations room of the municipal council that motivated the large presence of the public on Monday evening, in Saint-Lys, in the Muretain? No ! But a subject that is already controversial among the population arrived at the preamble of the agenda: the project of implantation in the premises of a former EHPAD of a preparation device for the return of asylum seekers (DPAR). One hundred and thirty people welcomed there.
Serge Deuilhé, the mayor, called on the municipal assembly to reach consensus around a motion. He detailed the genesis of the file that he had exposed beforehand and without dispute, to the representatives of the opposition groups and to Patrick Lasseube, honorary mayor. To the mayor’s surprise, who sees this “turnaround” as a political operation, the consensus was shattered in public session for more than an hour of heated debate.
One hundred and thirty people concerned
But what was the object of this debate? At the end of 2022, the retirement home “La Joie de Vivre”, which belongs to a private group, will leave Saint-Lys for Fonsorbes, thus leaving the premises empty. The ADOMA group, a subsidiary of the CDC Habitat group, acquired the building, with the agreement of the State services, which saw the opportunity to set up a return preparation center for rejected asylum seekers. (CPAR) of around 130 people, individuals and families. Without, it seems, referred to the municipality. On the merits of the file, all the groups agree to oppose this project which they consider disproportionate in view of the possibilities of integration of a municipality of 10,000 inhabitants. The differences are more formal on the management of this file by the municipality (see box). The mayor responded point by point, denying the accusations. In the name of the majority, he reaffirmed his opposition to this center, considering “that the EHPAD building given its situation and its state could not be a relevant place of reception for this project of this magnitude”. State services who “worked with Adoma on this project without ever joining forces with the municipality, until it accidentally learned of the existence of this plan”.
So what alternative in relation to the needs of the territory? “The State could participate in the emergence of a more ambitious project for Saint-Lys allowing the creation of social housing,” he said. Thus the municipality proposes to the prefecture, the DDT (direction of the territories) and the ADOMA to transform this building into a mixed housing program promoting social diversity; to offer the owner other free buildings for the CPAR system and to bring out a project of diversity and social inclusion, s provides for a dynamic living area in line with the recognized position of Saint-Lys as a medico-social center .
This motion, adopted by 20 votes out of 29, will be addressed to the Minister of the Interior, and to all departmental and regional authorities.
Controversy between majority and opposition
If they agree to assert their sensitivity to the distress of these rejected women and men asylum seekers, opposition and municipal majority engaged in a confrontation against copious during this meeting of the municipal council. To the accusations of “laxity of a passive majority” for this file, Serge Deuillé, responded strongly, supporting arguments given by an assistant.
The minority refused to join this motion. It considers that it was not informed in its time of the acquisition of the retirement home by ADOMA and especially of the transfer of the EHPAD “the joy to live ”from Saint-Lys to Fonsorbes.
“The alternative proposals contained in the mayor’s motion only act on the failure of the reconversion of this EHPAD; where there could have been a nursing home, an ADMR, social services or even a home for dependent dependent people. Moreover, in June 2021, when the mayor learned of the future establishment of a CPAR, the information was kept secret for more than three months ”accuses the municipal opposition. This file is far from over.