French courts uphold campus closures and property lease decisions

In separate legal rulings, French administrative courts have addressed issues regarding property management and university security.

The administrative tribunal of Rennes ruled in favor of Rennes 2 University, refusing an emergency request from unions to reopen the Villejean and La Harpe campuses. The court upheld the closure, which has been in place since October 5, citing ‘unprecedented material damage’ and ‘particularly dangerous actions’ by individuals. The judge noted incidents including people scaling roofs, rappelling from buildings, and tampering with high-voltage electrical systems, which rendered certain buildings unsafe for public use.

In Grenoble, the administrative tribunal rejected a legal challenge against a 2022 municipal decision regarding a property at 38 rue d’Alembert. The building, previously an illegal squat, was purchased by the city and leased to an association for forty years under an emphyteutic lease. Opponents argued the arrangement provided advantageous conditions to political activists at the expense of taxpayers, but the court dismissed the appeal.