Pension reform: the University of Bordeaux evacuates a blocked site

Europe 1 with AFP 18:38 p.m., March 31, 2023

One of the sites of the University of Bordeaux, occupied and without activity since March 21 as part of the conflict over pension reform, was evacuated peacefully by police early Friday morning, AFP journalists found. According to the prefecture of Gironde, the intervention of the police responded to a request from the president of the establishment "for reasons of securing people and property".

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The premises had been occupied "illegally" since March 21, the day after the rejection of the motion of censure, "by a maximum of 200 people, mostly from outside the University, and by students," she added in a statement. The site concerned, located Place de la Victoire in the city center, is part of the Faculty of Human Sciences of the University of Bordeaux. The operation was carried out by about 80 police officers from 04:30 "without clashes or use of force," says the prefecture.

Thirty-nine occupants were present, whose identities were recorded. Several confirmed to AFP that the intervention was peaceful and that not all were students. Since the occupation, significant material damage had been noted inside the premises and barricades prevented access to emergency services, with "proven risks of fire", according to the president of the university, Dean Lewis, who also evokes "alerts concerning the safety of people".

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"The damage seen is very significant. The site will reopen as soon as conditions permit," he said in a statement on Friday. "The holding of rave type parties and the presence of individuals on rooftops has also been noted. Finally, the premises served as a rear base for several violent actions during the recent demonstrations," according to the prefecture.