A69: the prefecture prohibits the new mobilization planned to “bury” the construction site

Several thousand people are expected this weekend in the Tarn to "bury" the A69 motorway, a new weekend of mobilization against this project that a prefectural decree banned on Tuesday July 1st due to "the obvious risks of serious disturbances to public order."

"From all the messages of support we've received and all the people who want to come (...) we're expecting a large turnout," said one of the organizers, who wished to remain anonymous. But the Tarn prefect has issued a decree banning any gathering of opponents of the A69, citing the "serious and repeated violence" that previous demonstrations against the A69 had given rise to. In their previous decrees announcing increased police measures, local prefectures have mentioned "at least 2,000 participants according to intelligence services."

Since spring 2023 and the first groundbreaking ceremony for this project aimed at creating 53 km of expressway between Castres and Toulouse, the protests have intensified, taking different forms: demonstrations, hunger strikes, occupations of trees in the heart of areas to be defended, and even legal action .

From Friday afternoon until Sunday, anti-A69 activists have been called by environmental groups, including the Soulèvements de la Terre , to take part in a "Turboteuf" to say: "the A69 is still no" , in a location that is still unknown "near the motorway route" .

However, to date, "no organization or association has declared that it assumes legal responsibility for this event" and messages circulating on social networks "explicitly call for violent acts and acts of destruction," denounced the Tarn prefecture in a press release, explaining its banning order.

At the end of February, the Toulouse administrative court ordered a suspension of work on the motorway , considering that there was no compelling reason of major public interest (RIIPM) to justify the damage caused to the environment.

This decision, hailed as a victory by opponents, has given rise to several appeals from pro-motorway supporters: on the one hand, before the administrative courts, and on the other, through a bill aimed at retroactively validating the environmental permits for the construction site. This bill is expected to be adopted in the coming days, after a final vote in both houses of parliament.

"To our knowledge, this is the first time that elected officials have tried to circumvent a court decision (by going through parliamentary channels, editor's note). It is nevertheless an unprecedented authoritarian turn that we are seeing around this fight," denounced Martin.

Meanwhile, ahead of the full review of the case scheduled for the end of the year, the Toulouse Administrative Court of Appeal authorized the resumption of construction work at the end of May. This legal and political battle between the pro and anti sides is resulting in significant local tensions.

In recent days, investigations have been opened by the Castres public prosecutor's office, particularly for "damage" , while the properties of opponents of the A69 have been targeted by tags, name-brand placards or malicious acts.

The Turboteuf is the fourth large-scale mobilization, following rallies in April and October 2023 and June 2024, the last two being marked by clashes with the police.

Considering that the demonstration presents "clear risks of serious disturbances to public order" , the Tarn prefecture has banned all gatherings in the 17 Tarn communes along the A69 motorway route from 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 3 until 8 p.m. on Monday, July 7, according to the text published Tuesday evening.

Along with its neighbour in Haute-Garonne, it had initially taken specific police measures in 24 municipalities, for example prohibiting the transport of fuel, chemicals, spray paint, used tyres or other combustible materials, items likely to be used by protesters.

"The prefecture (...) is stirring things up in order to scare the opposition, to impress people (...) because they don't want us to come together and express our disagreement, but that's not going to stop us," Martin said, regarding these first measures.