They don’t want McDonald’s in their town

Residents of a French village in Vaucluse protested the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant, but the municipality’s mayor said he was powerless to prevent the project from taking place on private land.

As “Ouest-France” reported on Wednesday, a sign erected on the site announced the establishment of an American fast food franchise in place of a traditional restaurant whose building will soon be demolished.

A community association launched a petition signed by one-third of the residents of the village of Serignon-du-Comtat to demand the suspension of the project, which, according to the opponents of the American brand, disturbs the socio-economic harmony of the village. .

“The arrival of the American juggernaut threatens this fragile economic balance,” declared Remi Julien, a young retiree who chairs the Vivre association in Serignon-du-Comtat, which disputed that no one in the village was consulted. project.

Criticized from all sides, right-wing mayor Julian Merle defends himself and explains that the project does not need to be discussed in the municipal council because it is a personal matter, opposed by the majority of elected officials.

“Besides, if it were my land, we’d make something other than McDonald’s,” said Mr. Merle declared to a French newspaper, “But it’s private land, so we can’t be against granting permission.”

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