Villeneuve-Saint-Georges mayor bans leaflet distribution

The Mayor of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, Kristell Niasme, has issued a municipal decree banning the distribution of leaflets between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM in several key areas, including the city center, near the RER station, and around municipal buildings. The order, which requires prior authorization from the town hall, was implemented to prevent public disorder and respond to what the mayor described as “calls to riot” and blockades near local high schools.

Opposition parties have challenged the legality of the measure. The French Communist Party (PCF) of Val-de-Marne has filed a legal challenge with the Melun Administrative Court, characterizing the decision as a “brutal” infringement on the freedom of political expression. Members of La France insoumise (LFI) also condemned the decree, labeling it “liberticidal.”

Mayor Niasme admitted to taking an “outrageous” stance intentionally to draw attention to the issue of public disturbances. Her administration noted that the measure aims to address security risks and prevent the accumulation of litter, though some officials suggested the decree might be reviewed or withdrawn following the public reaction.