André Laignel, the PS mayor of Issoudun.

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Eric TSCHAEN / POOL / SIPA

The mayor of Issoudun (Indre) announced on Friday the opening of his city's museum to private groups, the day after the administrative justice suspended the reopening of the establishment, triggering a new legal procedure.

“I confirm that the heritage rooms of the museum will be completely closed.

I also renounce the permanent opening of the contemporary art gallery.

But we are going to open up the possibility of private visits by appointment, ”for groups of up to six people, declared André Laignel, elected PS.

On Thursday, the Limoges administrative court suspended the reopening of the Hospice Saint-Roch museum, decided by André Laignel, in the wake of a similar decision in Perpignan, also rejected by the courts.

The court had been seized in summary proceedings by the prefecture of Indre, according to which this reopening did not comply with the provisions of the decree of October 29, 2020 on measures to combat the Covid-19 epidemic.

Friday, the prefecture "once again seized the president of the administrative court in summary suspension of the decision announced by the mayor and brought an appeal for annulment on the merits", she said.

A "useful" action

Even if administrative justice proved him wrong, André Laignel nevertheless judged his action "useful".

"It will have contributed with many other initiatives, across the country, to accelerate the moment when culture will once again have the right of citizenship", estimated the mayor during a press conference.

“Our country needs culture to live, to survive, to resist, but also to innovate.

I say it with seriousness: confining the culture will not reverse the virus.

Confining culture will further aggravate the daily lives of many French people, ”he declared.

“It is the height of ridicule to deny us a museum visit, there is no place more 'secure' than a museum.

We do not eat there, we do not drink there, we do not smoke there, we speak little there, it is recommended not to touch the works ”, judged the mayor of Issoudun and vice-president of the Association. mayors of France (AMF).

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