Mayor Robert Ménard presented his wishes to the residents of Biterrois and pledged to “protect the most fragile”

Surrounded by members of the municipal council, the deputy, the sub-prefect and the surrounding mayors, Robert Ménard presented his wishes. Diane Petitmangin

The banda Mescladis opened the evening with the joyful and catchy song “Dans les yeux d’Emilie” by Joe Dassin. Diane Petitmangin

Robert Ménard, the mayor of Béziers, presented his wishes to the residents of Biter this Thursday, January 11, at 7 p.m. He praised the qualities of "his" city, recalled the projects carried out and presented those to come in 2024. Above all, in these difficult times, he assured that the City would be at the bedside of the most deprived. Provided, of course, that they respect the city, its representatives and its facilities. 

This is in front of a crowd that is probably smaller than usual – freezing weather obliges – that Robert Ménard, the mayor of Béziers, accompanied by his municipal council, the deputy, the sub-prefect and the surrounding mayors, presented his wishes to the Biterrois, this Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m., on the Allées . 

Opening his speech on the sporting performances of the Béziers Angels and local rugby players, the councilor praised the qualities of “his” quoted. "This town is our town, the oldest town in France. Look how beautiful she has become again. Our ambition is to make it even more attractive, even more conquering.

The controversy over the halls

Robert Ménard then listed the various projects carried out (sports palace, Allées) before discussing the next achievements: the former Variety Theater, granting itself on the occasion a little joke towards the sub-prefect Jacques Lucbereilhe by revealing to him that the said building once housed the city's porn cinema.

He also spoke about the halls, the rehabilitation of which (but especially the delegation of management to a private partner) is controversial. "I'll see you on November 1st for their opening and you will see that at that time, everyone will be happy".  He promised  nbsp;also a beautiful square for the SNCF station and a footbridge spanning it to reach directly the Canal du Midi. 

Villas on the roof of the convention center

Then the mayor had fun announcing the overhaul of the convention center – "we did not announce it in the municipal council, ;rsquo;opposition is not going to be happy… We have seen the project, you are going to fall backwards. We will keep the three floors and above, we will put villas, with a garden in the middle.

To conclude, Robert Ménard made a promise to protect the most vulnerable. "The CCAs has never helped so many people. Never have we distributed so much money or food vouchers. The commitment I am making is that we will do even more. We must not leave those who have the most difficulty on the side of the road.

Help those in difficulty

However, the chief magistrate put some conditions on it. "We help people but they have to take their responsibilities. We build social housing but they must respect their housing. Recalling the recent riots, he denounced the various degradations and, in a rather daring shortcut, he criticized parents for not knowing how to hold their children. "All families who turn a blind eye to the abuses and criminal behavior of their children, you have my word that it will not happen like that". 

Evoking the wine revolt of 1907, Robert Ménard recalled "the ability to resist" from the city. Diane Petitmangin

"The La Devèze district, which is also my district, is the one where we invested the most money, between the City, the # 39;State and other communities. In ten years, it's 185 million euros. We should turn a blind eye to the abuses of a few ? No, we will be intractable with people who do not respect our city". The chief magistrate then presented his wishes to the country, dreaming of a France "which knows how to take its destiny into its own hands". With "pride, courage, ambition and panache".

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