In Montpellier, families evicted from a squat are rehoused by the city council, which criticizes the state

The socialist mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, announced on Tuesday, November 4, that a temporary accommodation solution had been found for families camping in front of his town hall since their eviction from a squat, denouncing in passing the shortcomings of the prefecture on this matter.

On October 27, the prefect of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, ordered the police to "evacuate" a squat on the outskirts of the city, "in accordance with a court decision".

These expelled people - about twenty according to the prefecture, more than thirty, including about fifteen children, according to associations - immediately set up a makeshift camp in front of the Town Hall, where support gatherings brought together several hundred people.

"Winter is coming, the cold is setting in. No one should be sleeping outside in France," denounced LFI MP Nathalie Oziol on site, placing the blame squarely on the State and the city.

"As the prefecture failed to fulfill its legal obligations, all families are being accommodated in hotels starting today," Mr. Delafosse said in a statement on Tuesday.

"A temporary solution" which "has been accepted by the families," he added.

"In order to recover the costs incurred", the city will launch a "reimbursement procedure with the state services", the socialist elected official also announced.

He felt he had been presented with a fait accompli by the prefecture on this matter, whereas in recent years the two parties had been able to jointly carry out operations to "resolve" squats and shantytowns.

Of the 21 people expelled, six asylum seekers received support. The others are subject to an order to leave French territory (OQTF), François-Xavier Lauch pointed out on Monday in the Midi Libre newspaper.

"These people belong in their own countries," he added, denouncing a "political exploitation of this affair."

Late Tuesday, a new building about to be handed over to its owners, which had been occupied since Monday by several dozen people, was in turn raided by the police.

"The 70 people present on site were evacuated by the police. They were members of the settled Traveller community, who had accommodation and were domiciled in the Mosson district," a prefecture official told AFP.

"Operation completed. No incidents to report," he added.

"The squat has been evacuated and I welcome this (...) I will continue my action to fight against illegal installations and to implement court decisions," commented François-Xavier Lauch, quoted by his services.