REPORTAGE
Twenty kilometers from Biarritz, where the G7 is due to start on Saturday, thousands of anti-globalization protesters are expected for a counter-summit at the Franco-Spanish border. A demonstration is planned Saturday in the streets of Hendaye, and on the spot, traders and residents fear overflows.
What to expect ? That's the question everybody has in town. Suzanna, a resident, does not hide her concern. "We even wondered if we would not have to go to the family in Spain during those days, we're waiting to see how things are going, we'll do our weekend schedule based on that. ", she explains to Europe 1.
The fear of "black blocks"
On the merchant side, some are reluctant to stay open. Nathalie, who runs a shop facing the ocean, will take the pulse from day to day. "For the moment, we are in the unknown, we have had several meetings with the G7 counter-party, which has been very reassuring, we were told that the authorities had done everything necessary to make sure that it went well", she relates. "But there are those who will graft the counter-G7 ...", she slips, referring to the "black blocks", these violent activists that have been seen in recent months in some parades of "vests yellow. "
Many banks will be closed and barricaded on Tuesday in Hendaye, some real estate agencies also. "In addition to having warned my insurer, I have planned for two weeks to close the agency and barricade it with the help of a carpenter.All is ready, but I will try to keep it open the longest possible, "says Yannick, a real estate agent.
The municipality kept in the blur
The mayor, who has neither the number of protesters nor that of the police who will be there, said understand the concern of the population. "We have very little information from the services of the state," complains to Europe 1 Mayor (PS) Kotte Écénarro. "We have the assurance on the part of the local platform that this will be a peaceful demonstration, but, without a doubt, we can expect the arrival of outside elements who could fight," concedes- there.
In the meantime, the municipality is reduced to publishing on its site, for information purposes, the numerous prefectural orders taken in the last 48 hours, changing the direction of traffic on a street or prohibiting parking at such or such place.