Bordeaux (AFP)

The Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux was evacuated on Wednesday by decision of the town hall, after ten days of occupation during which the intermittents of the show had to quickly give way to activists of the "convergence of struggles".

This evacuation, which took place in general calm despite a few incidents, is the first of its kind since the occupation movement started at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in Paris on March 4, and is spreading oil in France.

"There are no more occupants inside," environmentalist mayor Pierre Hurmic assured the press at midday.

The town hall, which was a little later congratulated "that the first observations of the place show that this heritage jewel has not been degraded", set up a security device to prohibit any new entry.

In a press release, the mayor explained that "artistic activities and the security of the premises were no longer guaranteed to this day", asking the occupants to "leave the Grand-Théâtre without delay".

The thirty occupants, who had spent the night in the neoclassical building in the heart of the city, had been firmly invited in the early morning to leave the premises, the municipal police blocking the entry to any new entrant.

According to an employee of the theater, the police also closed access to the great hall, the refectory and the toilets to encourage departures.

A hundred demonstrators then gathered in front of the building, blocking the circulation of trams.

Some tried to enter by force but were repulsed by the municipal police who used tear gas.

"Police officers gassed, there were batons beaten. I'm still in shock. It was brutal," one of the occupants told AFP when he left.

According to Aristide, 20, the occupants had previously decided to leave the premises: "We wanted to go out together with our heads held high. Outside, they chose without warning us to force. It was brutal but in both directions. The cops responded. . There were gas and beatings ".

- Sanitary conditions -

The Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux, a late 18th century monument dedicated to lyrical art and dance, was occupied on March 15 by intermittents from the world of culture, with the support of the CGT.

Nevertheless, new occupants arrived on March 18, whose demands were closer to the "convergence of struggles" and the fight against precariousness, leading the previous occupants to leave the premises.

The town hall has also noted that "this occupation is no longer part of the national claim of cultural actors" and that the agreements made with the first occupants, in particular in terms of place of occupation, gauge and sanitary conditions, were not "guaranteed".

An expulsion request was filed by the presidency of the establishment with the administrative court.

The majority led by Pierre Hurmic (EELV) had been questioned a few days ago by his right-wing opposition fearing excesses and believing "naive to believe that this movement is controllable".

For its part, the CGT-Spectacle declared itself "opposed in principle to an evacuation", while affirming "not to know the occupants" evacuated on Wednesday and "to dissociate themselves from them" especially after "especially verbal violence" to the 'against the staff, according to Timo Metzemakers, secretary general of Samna-CGT (Musicians Nouvelle-Aquitaine).

The CGT associated with the collective of intermittents (CIP) is now considering the occupation of a new place in Bordeaux.

According to the CGT-Spectacle, a hundred theaters and cultural places are occupied in France by intermittents and students who demand the reopening of cultural places and the withdrawal of the draft decree of the reform of unemployment insurance.

On Twitter, @OccupationOdeon, account of the occupiers, said they could "not tolerate threats or evictions in any of the occupied places."

© 2021 AFP