Romainville Mayor Accused of Sabotaging Les Salaisons Art Space

Laurent Quénéhen, president of Les Salaisons, an art space in Romainville, France, has accused the municipal government of actively sabotaging the venue's operations. In a public statement, he detailed a pattern of obstruction, including the removal of a call for youth jury members from the municipal newspaper, covering of posters on public boards, and refusal to provide teacher contacts for a film selection project involving students from Lycée d'enseignement professionnel Liberté. Quénéhen also claimed that the mayor's office failed to deliver promised equipment for Nuit Blanche two years ago and reneged on a commitment to provide a bus for the Parcours Est event, forcing him to pay for rental himself. He alleged that the deputy mayor threatened to cut subsidies from the Conseil général de la Seine-Saint-Denis (Cg 93), which subsequently ceased support. Quénéhen stated that the municipality's financial contribution over five years has been only €40 per month, while Les Salaisons faces monthly electricity costs of €100, plus insurance and water, all paid from his personal funds as a volunteer on welfare. He also noted an annual property tax of €2,000. Quénéhen warned that if threatened again, he will file a complaint, asserting that the mayor does not represent the residents of Romainville. The Parcours Est event, described as free, social, and artistic, is scheduled for the following Saturday.