Limoges (AFP)

The creation of a "house of press cartoons and satirical cartoons" that the Minister of Culture has just announced surprised Saint-Just-le-Martel: this small town in Haute-Vienne has been claiming one since 2011 .

This municipality of 2,700 inhabitants, which organizes for 38 years an international fair of press cartoons and humor, has since 2011 a permanent center of caricature, press cartoons and humor called "Loup", from the name of designer Jean-Jacques Loup.

The 2,000 m2 center houses 10,000 rooms including 5,000 drawings and the office of Georges Wolinski, one of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack.

"We were obviously surprised" by the minister's announcement, Monday told AFP one of the center's co-chairs, Philippe Henry, "not recognizing the work of volunteers carried out over all these years is quite humiliating" .

Franck Riester announced this future creation last Tuesday, on the fifth anniversary of the attack on Charlie Hebdo, specifying that he would wait before the end of May "for proposals allowing France to acquire this unique and singular place".

Since then, elected officials from Haute-Vienne, Internet users and the daily newspaper Le Populaire du Center have been mobilizing to defend the center.

Alain Rousset, PS president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, said Monday during his wishes to the press to support the small town: "Our candidacy is Saint-Just-le-Martel near Limoges, and I will let you know ".

The City of Bordeaux is also a candidate.

In Saint-Just-le-Martel, each year, some 200 designers from all countries participate in the festival and the team of Charlie Hebdo, Cabu, Wolinski, Tignous, Charb, Honoré had their habits there.

"The designers who come here tell us that it is unique, that no other place like this exists in the world. They love the family spirit that reigns in Saint-Just. They are welcomed not in hotels but in people's homes, "said Henry.

Co-president Guy Hennequin invited the minister to go to Saint-Just-le-Martel: "We will welcome him with pleasure to show him around".

© 2020 AFP