“Mr. Seels thanks all the people who show their best support! He wishes you a happy holiday season and will respond to your many messages after the holidays!”
A vast support movement spread on social networks, in favor of Romuald Seels, mayor of Venetteafter his police custody.
On Sunday, December 22, in the afternoon, the mayor was held in police custody for two days at the police station. Treatment following an altercation with travelers who were asked not to participate in the motorcycle rodeo.
Following this remark, an individual approached Romuald Seels, then driving his vehicle. And would have grabbed him by the collar. Which would have forced the mayor to defend himself, brandishing an alarm gun (supposed to send out distress flares). The person apparently filed a complaint for threatening with a weapon.
“We walk on our heads”
Among the Internet users who send him their support, there is notably Emmanuel Mulard. “Poor France, total respect for the role of elected official…how can an elected official spend 48 hours in police custody in this context? We’re walking on our heads…” He wonders why the law is “on the side” of the squatters. Or prevents an individual from defending themselves against a burglar.
Nana Da Silva writes: “Romuald Seels, you have my full support. Your commitment to your community is impressive and inspires respect and not the opposite. Courage to you.”
It’s the world turned upside down, say the majority of Internet users who express themselves.
Michel Arnould, who has just resigned from the seat of mayor of Verberie, also supports the mayor of Venete. “This situation demonstrates to what extent mayors are there to endure the disorder and violence in our society. Without having to wait for the slightest consideration from the institutions.” We can see in this comment some clues about his recent decision.
“We abandon the mayors to their fate”
Christophe Dietrich, mayor of Laigneville, usually very active on social networks, gives his full support “without any reservation, to Romuald Seels”. “The law is quick to implicate mayors. But they are left to their fate to fend for themselves against the actions of Travelers. Reception rules are imposed on municipalities, but nothing is done in the face of the recurring deterioration of reception areas, in the face of behavior of which we are too often helpless witnesses as in this specific case, in the face of water diversions and of electricity, in the face of the sedentarization and illegal deforestation that we suffer in the natural areas of our municipalities. I can only understand Romuald Seels’ exasperation in the face of characters who feel totally untouchable and who then position themselves as victims. This elected official regularly testifies, on Facebook, about incivility and misdeeds committed in his municipality.
And when an Internet user responds to him by criticizing the attitude of the mayor, in this altercation, Christophe Dietrich considers that it is logoc. “By pushing people to the limit because we believe we are untouchable, it can end badly. The elected officials are humans, not machines. It’s so easy to provoke an elected official and act like a big name because you think you’re untouchable. If he had simply respected the law without trying to provoke, this would never have happened. The reality is that we are always asked for more to accommodate them. By promising to protect us from damage or violence. And finally, the State leaves us alone to manage these daily problems. I don’t applaud the method. But I end up understanding that we end up losing our temper when faced with people who do everything for that. Shade.”
“Elected official committed”
Joël Dupuy de Méry, deputy of Compiègne, fully supports “a courageous mayor, a local elected official. Serving the residents of Venette for the peace and security of all. Georges Diab, deputy mayor of Margny-lès-Compiègne, sees in Romuald Seels “a hands-on mayor committed to his commune and its territory”.
Eric Verrier, former deputy security officer of Compiègne, hopes that his fellow mayors of the ARC and elected officials in charge of security will support him. “And without nuance “at the same time”.” He assures the mayor of Venette, whose difficulties he says he “knows”, of his “understanding” and his “support”.
