Rennes (AFP)

The mayor of Langouët (Ille-et-Vilaine), Daniel Cueff, summoned before the administrative court of Rennes for an order prohibiting pesticides within 150 meters of the houses, called on Thursday justice to preserve an order "which goes into the sense of history ".

"What is the power of a mayor, can a mayor ignore the health of its inhabitants?" Asked Daniel Cueff at the hearing, citing the precautionary principle. "Since 2009, a European directive has required France to take measures to protect people from pesticide application, but nothing is done," he said, recalling that he had "not banned pesticides but imposed a distance of distance between treated fields and houses ".

Citing so many legal arguments, including a priority issue of constitutionality (QPC) on the "competence of the mayor to act in case of state deficiency", that relying on public health reports showing the dangerousness of pesticides on the human health, the mayor of this small town of 602 inhabitants called on the court to "preserve a decision that goes in the direction of history".

"There is an unprecedented background movement, people are tired of breathing pesticides," he added, citing an Ifop poll that "96% of French people" approve his decision.

For their part, state officials have argued that the mayor is incompetent to make decisions in an area that falls to the Ministers of Agriculture, Health and the Environment.

The decision of the court will be known early next week.

In court, between 700, according to the police, and more than a thousand people, according to the support group, had gathered to support the Breton city. In the crowd, many environmental organizations, members of "We want poppies", Acting for the environment, future generations, Extinction Rebellion, the eco-citizen lobby La Bascule or elected officials.

"Mrs. Prefect, let our mayors protect us," demanded a banner unfurled on the gates of the court. "Thank you" could be read on a sign several meters against the building.

On his arrival as well as his exit, Daniel Cueff was acclaimed by a thunderous applause. "We are at a tipping point, the state will be forced to put on the side of the population," said Michel Besnard chairman of the Western Pesticide Victim Support Group.

Among the historical supporters, Charlie Hebdo editors, whose call "We want poppies", launched in September 2018 for the ban of synthetic pesticides, has collected more than 800,000 signatures.

"What is interesting is that we have a mayor who is the first representative of the state to the citizens and that highlights a lack of the state, in this case its duty to protect citizens", estimated Gérard Biard, editor in chief of the satirical weekly.

"Pesticides, it's not just when you go into a field, it affects the daily lives of people, we undergo them, we eat, we breathe," he added.

"We came by bus to support all the mayors who take this kind of initiative," says Valérie, 48, a resident of Langouët. stating that they are 15 mayors to be listed on the site "We want poppies".

© 2019 AFP