The Head of State formalized this announcement Tuesday afternoon during his greetings to the press, on this anniversary of the march of January 11 in tribute to the victims of the attack against Charlie Hebdo in 2015 after the publication of cartoons of Muhammad.

"The spirit of January 11, that of this march which, just seven years ago, brought together millions of people for freedom of expression, will therefore continue to live in 2022, in the heart of Paris", in the 6th district, underlined Mr. Macron.

"Satire, humoristic drawing, current affairs drawing, political drawing are at the heart of the history of France," he insisted, repeating that "we will not give up on the fight for all freedoms, including that of caricaturing (…) at the risk of sometimes arousing anger, violence and threats ".

Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a mission to create a "house of press cartoons and satirical cartoons" during his vows to the press in January 2020, defending the right to blasphemy as an element of freedom of expression.

A statement that had taken place a few months before the stabbing attack in front of the former premises of Charlie Hebdo, followed by the assassination of Samuel Paty, in the fall of 2020.

But the pandemic delayed the realization of this commitment, desired in 2007 by the designer Georges Wolinski and carried, to the latter's death in the Charlie Hebdo attack, by his wife Maryse, who herself died last December.

"The work will begin as soon as possible," Emmanuel Macron stressed on Tuesday.

Stating that the name of the place was not yet final, the Elysee explained that the name of "house of caricature had been deemed" too restrictive "and the addition or not of the word" satirical drawing ", desired in particular by Maryse Wolinski, had not yet been decided.

Paris chooses Paris

The place, which will be installed near Notre-Dame, should host exhibitions and organize media education actions throughout France, said the Elysee.

It will also be a place of refuge for foreign designers.

"It is possible that this place is considered a target and it is necessary to think of the security", also estimated the presidency.

Charlie Hebdo welcomed this decision.

"For a long time, the press cartoon was rarely taken into account by national cultural policies, and no one will complain to see this oversight repaired today," the weekly told AFP on Tuesday.

"The tragedy suffered by our newspaper in 2015 raised a wave of global support which highlighted the attachment to this aspect of freedom of expression that is the press cartoon, well beyond the borders of France ", he added.

In September, Maryse Wolinski had, with six cartoonists including survivors of the attack, called on the Head of State to formalize his promise, recalling that "the satirical press is part of our history (...) and s '' has been developed to this day as a counter-power ".

The city of Limoges, unsuccessful candidate for this project alongside the neighboring town of Saint-Just-le-Martel which already has a 2,000 m2 center dedicated to press cartoons, has however denounced a choice "incomprehensible and unfair ".

"House of press cartoon: And Paris chooses ... Paris" reacted the town hall headed by Emile Roger Lombertie (LR) in a press release, regretting "the persistence of state centralism which (...) condemns medium-sized towns to the minimum portion ".

"I know the disappointment of some provincial towns which were quite serious candidates," replied Mr. Macron during his greetings to the press.

"But I believe that everything concurred so that this house could be registered for Paris", he estimated.

leb-tsq-pjl-jk / pb / cbn

© 2022 AFP